Pallavi Purkayastha murder case: Security guard Sajjad Mughal gets life imprisonment

The security guard convicted of killing Pallavi Purkayasta in her apartment has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Mumbai court.

Watchman Sajjad Mughal was convicted last week for the attempted rape and murder of the 25-year-old Purkayasta in her Mumbai flat, while the quantum of sentence was reserved for this week. Her family had been demanding the death sentence.

Pallavi worked for as an advocate for Excel Entertainment Pvt Ltd. She lived at Himalayan Heights in Wadala along with her boyfriend Avik Sengupta. The building’s security guard, Sajjad Moghul (22) also known as Sajjad Pathan, deliberately tripped the power twice that night, and stole the keys from Pallavi’s apartment when the electrician came to fix the problem.

Sajjad was reported to have bought a knife 15 days prior to the crime and had told other building staff that he planned to scare Pallavi and rape her.

The intercom of the flat wasn’t working and the 4 CCTV cameras were deactivated on the morning of August 9, 2012. Sajjad is believed to have deactivated these components.

Sajjad confessed that his intent was not murder, but rather to rape the 25-year old. When Pallavi aggressively fought back, he used the knife to slash her throat. He was subsequently charged with muder, molestation and trespassing.

The Mumbai Police arrested Sajjad at the Mumbai Central railway terminus the evening after her body was found, before he could catch a train to Surat from where he had planned to flee to Jammu and Kashmir.

Pallavi’s boyfriend Avik Sengupta did not survive to see if justice was served. He died following an illness in November 2013. Police reported that following the murder, Sengupta had also suffered from depression. An investigation by the police found that Sajjad Pathan’s employers, Ahmed Hamid Enterprises, a private security firm, did not have his complete address. This has prompted the requirement for stringent documentation of security guards hired by private firms.

Pallavi’s murder inspired Farhan Akhtar, owner of Excel Entertainment, to start ‘Men Against Rape and Discrimination’ or MARD in 2013. The social campaign has since gained tremendous support from popular celebrities.