Two brothers, who first molested a girl and then killed a Jain monk over a cigarette in an inebriated state in 2014, finally got their punishment after a Mumbai court sentenced to life imprisonment

Two brothers, who first molested a girl and then killed a Jain monk over a cigarette in an inebriated state in 2014, finally got their punishment after a Mumbai sessions court on Tuesday sentenced to life imprisonment.

Judge P R Bhavake convicted Ajay Gandhili (34) and Sanjay Gandhili (30) for murder and sentenced them to life imprisonment. Public prosecutor Mangesh Arote examined 12 witnesses in total, including the brother of the deceased. The Mumbai police had also recorded the statements of the two eyewitnesses before the magistrate.

The incident dates back to August 11, 2014 when Ajay and Sanjay in an inebriated condition started abusing Surendra Rai, the watchman of Ashish Garage, Oshiwara. When a woman, who was sitting nearby, intervened and tried make them go away, Ajay forced her into a vacant auto rickshaw and started molesting her. She somehow managed to flee and rush to the nearest police station where she filed a molestation case.

The convicts' night of crime wasn't over yet. The duo approached a man sleeping on the footpath, for a cigarette. On being refused since he did not have one, they assaulted him with wooden blocks and paver blocks.

The man was rushed to Cooper hospital in Juhu but was declared dead on admission.

The deceased was then identified as Himmat Kanojia, a Jain monk who belonged to a well-off Canada-based family. According to police, he had issues with family and hence had separated from them and was staying on the footpath.

Ajay was also convicted in this molestation case and sentenced to two years of imprisonment.