Mumbai Court: Security Guard Sentenced to Life for Lawyer's Murder

Summary: Sajjad Ahmed Abdul Aziz Mugal, a security guard, was found guilty of killing Pallavi Purkayastha in Mumbai. The court sentenced him to life in prison, based on strong indirect evidence.

The Incident and Initial Investigation

On August 8, 2012, Pallavi Purkayastha, a young lawyer, was found dead in her apartment in Wadala, Mumbai. Her fiancé, Avik Sengupta, discovered her body when he came home the next morning. At first, the police filed a report against an unknown person, but soon a security guard revealed Sajjad's involvement.

Sajjad's Arrest and Charges

Sajjad was arrested on August 10, 2012. He was charged with murder, assault, and breaking into a house, along with a section of the Bombay Police Act. The trial court found him guilty and sentenced him to life in prison.

Evidence Against Sajjad

• Presence at the Scene: Witnesses saw Sajjad at Pallavi's apartment around the time of the murder. His DNA was found on hair strands at the crime scene.
• Motive: Sajjad allegedly had inappropriate intentions towards Pallavi, which led to the crime.
• Confessions: Sajjad admitted to two people about the murder, asking for money to escape.
• Physical Evidence: A bloody knife and clothes with Pallavi’s DNA were found because of Sajjad's directions.

Court's Analysis

Judges A.S. Gadkari and Dr. Neela Gokhale, on November 10, 2025, confirmed the guilty verdict. They noted the strong indirect evidence connecting Sajjad to the crime, including his confessions to others and the DNA evidence.

Final Judgment

The court confirmed Sajjad's life sentence, stressing the seriousness of his actions. The judgment highlighted the importance of having a complete set of evidence in cases based on indirect proof.