In 2013, Rathi secured a nursing job with the ministry of defence at the INHS Asvini Hospital in Colaba. However, Panwar was unhappy with Rathi shifting to Mumbai. Special public prosecutor (SPP) Ujwal Nikam argued that Panwar wanted to marry Rathi, but the latter declined his proposal as she wanted to pursue her career. Angered by her refusal, Panwar even tried to stop Rathi from taking up the job. Brushing aside his objections, Rathi finally left for Mumbai on May 1, 2013.
Nikam alleged that Panwar followed her from Delhi, with a chemical, to avenge Rathi’s denial. On May 2, when Rathi reached Bandra terminus, Panwar threw acid on her. While Rathi sustained serious burn injuries, three other passengers were also injured in the attack. Panwar too sustained a few burns.
But defence lawyer Apeksha Vora argued that Rathi died due to medical negligence and Panwar was falsely implicated in the case. Vora had argued that Rathi was first taken to Bhabha Hospital, where she did not get proper treatment and later at Maseena Hospital the doctors ignored her and that she was examined by the junior staff, who neglected her condition.
A special women’s court on Tuesday convicted Ankur Lal Panwar for murder in connection with the Preeti Rathi acid attack case.Special Judge A S Shende convicted Panwar under Sections 302(murder) and 326B (Voluntarily throwing acid) of the IPC and is likely to hear arguments on the quantum of sentence tomorrow.
“We have been implicated just because we were poor. I want a CBI inquiry into the case,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rathi’s father Amar Singh Rathi hoped Panwar was awarded capital punishment.
“It took 3 years for us to get justice but I am happy that it has been finally delivered. I hope he gets death sentence,” he said.
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