A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Lucknow on Wednesday awarded life imprisonment to 10 convicts in the 2013 brutal murder of an on-duty deputy superintendent of police (DSP), Zia-ul-Haq, in Uttar Pradesh’s Pratapgarh district.
Here’s a recap of the case that shook UP.
MOMENTS BEFORE DISASTER
On March 2, 2013, in Ballipur, a village in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Nanhe Yadav, the pradhan (village head), was shot at by four assailants in the evening. The incident took place in the territory of Raghuraj Pratap Singh, alias Raja Bhaiya, a powerful local figure, a seven-time elected MLA from the Kunda assembly constituency in Pratapgarh since 1993. The shooting happened just a few feet from a small row of shops, which were reportedly a point of contention between Yadav and his killers.
Zia, who was posted in the area, responded to the scene along with three other policemen. Zia rushed the injured pradhan to the nearest hospital, but doctors declared Yadav dead on arrival.
By this time, an angry mob of around 300 people had gathered in the village, outraged by the pradhan’s murder. Zia, now accompanied by eight policemen, found himself and his team facing the wrath of the mob.
THE INCIDENT
“Armed with hockey sticks and iron rods, the mob first assaulted the senior police officer with sticks and then fatally shot him. His body was left at the crime scene near the house of Nanhe Yadav for about three hours before being discovered. The shocking incident in which an on-duty police officer was killed, caused outrage across the state,” said a senior UP Police officer.
THE INVESTIGATION
The investigation into the case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The federal agency made multiple arrests and filed charges against 14 accused, although it later filed a closure report in one of the FIRs. The report cleared Raghuraj Pratap Singh, also known as Raja Bhaiya, a powerful local independent legislator, who had been accused of involvement in the attack.
Another accused was declared a juvenile, leading to a separate trial.
During the proceedings, Yogendra Yadav, son of the murdered pradhan, died, and one accused, Sudhir, was acquitted. This case has remained politically charged, especially due to the involvement of influential figures like Raja Bhaiya.
However, on September 26, 2023, the Supreme Court ordered the CBI to reopen its investigation into Raja Bhaiya’s role. This decision came in response to a petition filed by Parveen Azad, the widow of the slain officer.
THE VERDICT
Special Public Prosecutor KP Singh said: “The court handed down life imprisonment to all 10 accused.”
In addition to the life sentences, each convict was fined Rs 19,500, with half of the total amount designated for Parveen Azad, according to prosecution officials.
Those sentenced include Phool Chand Yadav, Pawan Yadav, Manjeet Yadav, Ghanshyam Saroj, Ram Lakhan Gautam, Chhotelal Yadav, Ram Asrey, Munna Patel, Shivam Pasi, and Jagat Bahadur Pal. The court had reserved its order on October 4, after convicting the accused based on sufficient evidence.
The 10 were found guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 302 (murder), 353 (assaulting a public servant to deter him from discharging official duties), and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt). They were also convicted under Section 27 of the Arms Act, which punishes the use of firearms in a crime.
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