Ranchi- A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Ranchi on Thursday sentenced three individuals to life imprisonment for the 2022 murder of teenager Rupesh Pandey, a case that had sparked widespread public outrage and communal tension across Jharkhand.
The convicted individuals — Mohammad Aslam Ansari alias Pappu Mian, Mohammad Gufran, and Mohammad Kaif — were each awarded rigorous life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 10,000. The court directed that failure to pay the fine would result in additional punishment. Following the verdict, the three were taken into judicial custody and sent to jail.
Earlier, on February 2, the special court had convicted the three after hearing final arguments from both the prosecution and the defence. Meanwhile, two other accused in the case — Mohammad Irfan and Istakhar Mian — were acquitted due to lack of sufficient evidence linking them to the crime.
The incident took place in the Barhi police station area of Hazaribagh district. On February 6, 2022, 17-year-old Rupesh Pandey had accompanied his uncle to witness the Saraswati Puja immersion procession. According to the prosecution, a mob allegedly led by Ansari surrounded the teenager near the immersion site and brutally assaulted him, resulting in his death.
The killing led to widespread protests and strained law-and-order situations in several parts of the state.
Initially, an FIR lodged at Barhi police station named 27 individuals as accused. However, after investigation, local police filed a chargesheet against only five persons.
Seeking a fair investigation, Rupesh Pandey’s mother moved the Jharkhand High Court, raising concerns over the probe. Considering the gravity of the allegations, the High Court ordered a CBI investigation into the case.
The CBI subsequently took over the probe and conducted a fresh investigation, following which the trial was held in a designated special CBI court in Ranchi. The prosecution during the trial was led by Special Public Prosecutor Priyanshu Singh, who represented the CBI.
With inputs from IANS