Anil Deshmukh, the former home minister of Maharashtra and a leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has called for the death penalty for a 65-year-old man accused of raping and murdering a four-year-old girl in Bhor district, Pune, Maharashtra. The suspect allegedly lured the girl with promises of food before committing the crime. Deshmukh described the incident as 'extremely outrageous' and criticized the state and central governments for delaying the implementation of the Shakti Act, which aims to curb sexual violence. He emphasized that the accused should be tried in a fast-track court and sentenced to death by hanging. Deshmukh expressed concern about the rise in atrocities against women and children in Maharashtra, asserting that had the Shakti Act been in effect, the accused would have faced severe penalties swiftly. The Maharashtra legislative council recently passed the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill 2026, which includes provisions to protect the identities of acid attack victims and impose jail terms for online sexual overtures, further highlighting the urgency of addressing sexual crimes in the state.