The case dates back to September 3, 2026, when Faisal alias Khatki Rafikbhai Lakhani, 25, attacked his live-in partner Kajal Baraiya near the entrance of the ST bus stand in Bhavnagar. During the assault, he repeatedly smashed her head against a wall and the floor. Baraiya succumbed to her injuries the following day while undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Following the incident, Bhavnagar Police completed the investigation and filed the charges within 30 days. The trial was subsequently concluded in another 31 days, allowing the court to deliver its verdict on November 5, 2026.
Principal Sessions Judge R.V. Bukhari sentenced Lakhani to life imprisonment after considering the evidence presented during the proceedings. The prosecution relied on eyewitness testimonies, CCTV footage, forensic findings and documentary evidence to establish the case. The proceedings also included the accused's attempt to kidnap a witness.
The swift investigation and completion of the trial within 62 days drew attention from Gujarat's political leadership. State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi praised the police action and the court's swift proceedings, describing them as evidence of the state's zero-tolerance approach towards crimes against women.
The verdict has also prompted reactions online, with many describing the rapid completion of the investigation and trial as a model for the rest of India. The case highlights the timeline of police investigation, prosecution and judicial proceedings that led to a life sentence in the murder of Kajal Baraiya.
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