Goa Court Sentences Vikat Bhagat to Two Life Terms for 2017 Rape and Murder of Irish Woman
Margao, 18th February 2025: In a significant ruling, a Goa court on Monday handed down two life sentences to Vikat Bhagat, who was convicted last week for the rape and murder of a 28-year-old Irish woman in Canacona in 2017.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Kshama Joshi, who had convicted Bhagat on February 14, announced the sentence, which includes two rigorous life imprisonments—one under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for murder, and the other under Section 376 for rape. The court specified that both sentences will run concurrently, meaning Bhagat will serve a single life sentence throughout his natural life. Along with the life sentences, the court imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 for each offense.
Additionally, Bhagat was given a three-year sentence for the destruction of evidence, as per Section 201 of the IPC, along with a fine of Rs 10,000.
The tragic incident occurred in March 2017, when the victim, a former student of Liverpool John Moores University, was found dead in a secluded field in Canacona. The crime had shocked both local and international communities.
