Daijiworld Media Network - Ranchi
Ranchi, Feb 5: A special CBI court in Ranchi on Thursday handed down life imprisonment to three men convicted in the 2022 murder of 17-year-old Rupesh Pandey, a crime that had sparked widespread public outrage and communal tension across Jharkhand.
The convicted, Mohammad Aslam Ansari alias Pappu Mian, Mohammad Gufran, and Mohammad Kaif, were each sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment and fined ?10,000. The court stipulated that failure to pay the fine would result in additional punishment. All three were taken into judicial custody and lodged in jail immediately after the verdict.
The special court had delivered its verdict on February 2, after hearing final arguments from the prosecution and defense. Two other accused, Mohammad Irfan and Istakhar Mian, were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
The case stems from Hazaribagh district’s Barhi police station area. On the evening of February 6, 2022, Rupesh had gone with his uncle to watch the Saraswati Puja immersion procession. According to the prosecution, a mob allegedly led by Ansari attacked Rupesh near the immersion site, brutally assaulting him, which resulted in his death.
The murder had triggered widespread anger, leading to protests and tense law-and-order situations across multiple districts in Jharkhand. Initially, 27 individuals were named in the FIR registered at Barhi police station, but police ultimately filed charges against only five.
Rupesh’s mother approached the Jharkhand High Court, questioning the fairness of the local investigation. The court, recognizing the gravity of the case, directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over. The CBI conducted a fresh investigation, leading to the trial in a special CBI court in Ranchi.
Special public prosecutor Priyanshu Singh represented the CBI during the proceedings, presenting evidence and arguments that culminated in the life sentences for the three convicts.
This verdict marks a significant step in delivering justice in a case that had shaken the state and drawn national attention.