Special Correspondent
SPECIAL Judge (MCOCA) M S Azmi, on Monday, sentenced dreaded goons Sheikh Akram alias Bhura Sheikh Rahman and Pappu alias Kamlesh Dwarkaprasad Gupta to life imprisonment in the sensational Shripal Jain murder case at Vasantrao Naik Nagar slums in Sitabuldi area. Jain’s murder took place in September 2012 and came to light only after mob-lynching of the brother of the main accused.
Ten years ago, Shripal alias Rohit Jinendrakumar Jain (35), an electronic gadgets dealer from Chhapra Nagar, Lakhnadon, district Seoni, Madhya Pradesh, was murdered over a monetary dispute. After killing Jain for not repaying the debts incurred during gambling, Sheikh Akram and Pappu Gupta had buried the body in one of the shanties adjacent to the wall of the Vidarbha Hockey Association ground to destroy evidence.
The court acquitted accused Anup Annaji Bhosle, Bhaskar Austin Joseph, Sachin Kesarsingh Thakur, Vishal Narayanswami Reddy and Dhiraj Ramchandra Makarande as the charges framed against them could not be substantiated.
According to the prosecution, Sheikh Akram and his accomplices were running a gambling den at Vasantrao Naik Nagar slums. On September 24, 2012 at around 11.30 pm Sheikh Akram, Pappu Gupta and other accused killed Jain and buried the body in a hutment owned by Kashinath Kawde who fled the locality after being threatened by the accused.
Sheikh Akram and Pappu Gupta had also threatened Ishwari Sahu, Rajkumar Sahu and Rajesh Dhurve with dire consequences. They were made to dig the pit in the hutment at knife point.
On October 9, 2012, the accused again came to the spot and tried to shift the body fearing that they would be arrested if the absconding slum dwellers informed the police. At weapon point, they were forcing some local residents to exhume the body. Being constantly terrorised by the goons, the angry slum-dwellers turned violent and started attacking them. Sensing trouble, Sheikh Akram, Pappu Gupta and others tried to run away. The angry mob chased them and lynched Sheikh Akram's brother Iqbal, another hardened criminal, near Maharajbag. Jain’s murder came to light after Iqbal’s lynching by the mob and the harassed slumdwellers exposed the misdeeds of Sheikh Akram, Pappu Gupta and their accomplices. After Jain’s body was exhumed in the presence of Special Executive Magistrate, GMC doctors and senior cops, Sitabuldi Police registered a case under Sections 143,147,148,149, 302 of the Indian Penal Code following a complaint lodged by Ishwari Shahu. Sheikh Akram, Pappu Gupta and other accused were arrested. Later, cops invoked the provision of Sections 3(1)(I), 3(2), 3 (4) and 3(5) of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act against Sheikh Akram, Pappu Gupta and other accused.
After investigating the case, Assistant Commissioner of Police P P Dharamshi filed a chargesheet against them.
The court examined as many as 34 prosecution witnesses. As the charges under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC were proved against Sheikh Akram and Pappu Gupta, the court awarded life imprisonment to them with a fine of Rs 10,000 each. For the offence under Sections 201 and 34 of the IPC, they were sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 3000 each. All other accused in the case were acquitted of all charges. Special Public Prosecutor Adv Vijay Kolhe represented the State. Adv Avinash Gupta and Adv R K Tiwari were the defence counsels.