The case concerns the rape and murder of a six-year-old girl ('Laadli') in Palwal, Haryana, on 24 May 2021. The accused, Anand Singh (aged 27), a neighbour, allegedly lured the child while her parents were at work, took her to an isolated agricultural field, brutally raped her at both orifices, throttled her to death, and concealed her body in a pit. The Sessions Court convicted Anand Singh under Sections 302 and 201 IPC and Section 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012, and sentenced him to death, with the reference for confirmation of the death sentence sent to the Punjab and Haryana High Court under Section 366 CrPC, 1973. The convict also filed a criminal appeal challenging his conviction and sentence. The High Court (Justices Anoop Chitkara and Ramesh Chander Dimri) reserved judgment on 1 July 2026 and pronounced it on 8 July 2026; however, the full operative part of the judgment as provided does not record the final appellate decision beyond the framing of the reference and appeal.