Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the formulation of a stringent law to deny parole to sexual offense convicts, highlighting that roughly 90 per cent of such incidents involve repeat offenders on temporary leave.
During a cabinet session on Tuesday, Fadnavis pointed out that a similar law was implemented during his 2014-2019 tenure as the CM but was struck down by the courts after three years, sources said.
The Chief Minister’s move seeks to address systemic loopholes that allow high-risk individuals back into society prematurely. By focusing on the high recidivism rates among those on release, the proposed legislation aims to prioritise public safety over convict leniency.
Fadnavis’s reference to the previous legal setback suggests that the new draft will likely be designed to withstand more intense constitutional scrutiny to avoid being struck down by the courts again.
Also read: Govt to seek death penalty in Pune rape-murder case: CM Fadnavis
"About 80 to 90 per cent of the accused in such (sexual offence) cases are those arrested earlier for similar crimes and released on parole, during which they end up committing offences again," sources said, quoting Fadnavis.
Stressing the need for stricter measures to curb repeat crimes, the Chief Minister said a law barring parole for persons accused of sexual offences should be brought back.
The Chief Minister's directives have come amid the recent case of a 65-year-old man with a criminal record, who allegedly sexually assaulted and murdered a four-year-old girl in a village in Bhor tehsil of Pune district.
Fadnavis noted that the accused in the rape and murder case had committed similar offences twice earlier, and highlighted the urgency of preventing repeat offenders from misusing parole.
According to sources, he directed officials from the law and judiciary department to prepare the necessary legal provisions and submit a proposal at the earliest.
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