In a significant development, a Mumbai sessions court has sentenced Arvind Gupta, 31, to life imprisonment for the 2014 murder of Shagufta Khan in her Malad (West) high-rise apartment. The conviction was largely based on the compelling testimony of Khan’s daughter, Riya Jalan Khan, who was just 13 years old at the time of the incident.

On November 11, 2014, Riya and her younger sister returned home from school to discover their mother with fatal injuries and Gupta attempting to flee the scene with stolen jewelry worth ₹80 lakh. Gupta, who worked at a mobile shop owned by a friend of Khan’s husband, was also convicted of attempting to murder Riya and received a concurrent six-year sentence.

Riya’s detailed courtroom account and identification of Gupta were pivotal in the case. The judge dismissed claims that her testimony was coached, describing it as truthful and consistent. The prosecution’s case was further strengthened by evidence from 25 witnesses, post-mortem reports, recovered stolen items, and CCTV footage. Gupta was arrested in Kolkata two days after the murder. This verdict underscores the critical role of child witnesses in achieving justice, even years after a crime.

Sources