Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Sep 1: In a case involving the 1995 double murder, the Supreme Court on Friday sentenced Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Member of Parliament (MP) Prabhunath Singh to life imprisonment. A justices’ bench consisting of Sanjay Kishan Kaul, AS Oka and Vikram Nath issued the ruling.
The court ordered Singh and the Bihar government to make compensation for the victims by giving each family of the deceased victim Rs 10 lakh and each injured victim Rs 5 lakh.
The Supreme Court found Prabhunath Singh guilty in the murder case on August 18 and reversed the Patna High Court’s earlier decision to exonerate him. The court set the next hearing date for September 1 on August 18.
The court outlined the investigation carried out by the prosecution agency, noting that the report demonstrates how Singh used his influence to affect the case in his favour because he was a powerful individual and a serving MP of the ruling party.
The apex court said Prabhunath Singh is subject to conviction under Sections 302 and 307 of the IPC for culpable homicide that constitutes murder and an attempt to commit murder. The Court added that there was enough evidence to demonstrate his involvement in the case.
“Accused-respondent no. 2 (Prabhunath Singh) is thus convicted under Sections 302 and 307 IPC for the murders of Daroga Rai and Rajendra Rai and also for an attempt to murder injured Smt. Devi,” the top court said and directed the Secretary, Department of Home, State of Bihar, and the Director General of Police, Prabhunath Singh (Respondent No. 2) must be immediately arrested and Bihar must make sure of it.
The Patna High Court’s verdict from December 2021 upholding the Additional Sessions Judge’s Fast Track Court in Patna’s October 24, 2008 decision clearing Singh and others of all charges was being appealed before the court.
The incident that is the subject of the case took place in March 1995. During voting in Chhapra, two men were killed close to a polling place. The guys allegedly died by shooting because they disobeyed Singh’s orders to vote, according to the prosecuting agency.
In accordance with Sections 147, 148, and 149/307 of the Indian Penal Code, 18601, as well as Section 27 of the Arms Act, an FIR was filed on March 25, 1995, at the Police Station Masrakh (Panapur) District Saran in Chapra, Bihar. Section 302 of the IPC followed as two out of three injured people passed away while receiving treatment. According to the testimony of one of the injured, Rajendra Rai, who later passed away from his injuries, the aforementioned FIR was filed.
