Mumbai, June 29 -- Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday welcomed the death sentence handed down by a Pune special court to the 65-year-old convict in the brutal rape and murder of a three-year-old girl in Pune district.

Talking to the reporters, Eknath Shinde termed the judgment a "benchmark verdict," and credited the swift police investigation and the state's fast-track approach for ensuring justice in a time-bound manner.

He said, "I thank the court for the death sentence awarded. A small girl was murdered. This verdict is a benchmark verdict. The police also investigated quickly."

The Deputy CM emphasised his and the Maharashtra Chief Minister's personal involvement in the case to ensure justice for the victim's...