Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 10: In the murder case of PSI Ajay Gupta in which a trial court had awarded life-imprisonment to then S P Sevak Singh and his PSO, a Supreme Court bench of Justice J Chelameswar and Justice Abhay Mamphar Sapre observed that the bail application had been filed by the appellants who were convicted for the offence under section 302 of RPC and have been in jail for the past 15 years and 2 months and granted bail to the SP on the bail to the satisfaction of second Additional Sessions Judge, Jammu.
As per the prosecution case, the PSI was killed under a well planned conspiracy after he and the SP exchanged blows over an issue prior to the incident. The accused, however, had managed to get the incident reported as an encounter.
Then SHO of Police Station, Surankote, Jagjit Singh had registered an FIR No 172 of 1998 for commission of offences under sections 302, 120-B, 121 and 122 of RPC, 7/25, 26, 27 of Arms Act and section 3 of EAO, on the basis of the written report lodged by Sewak Singh, in-charge SP (operations), Surankote, on October 13, 1998.
The complainant stated that PSI Ajay Gupta along with Muhammad Akram driver, constable Satpal Singh and Abdul Razak bodyguards were returning from patrolling duty when they were ambushed by militants, leading to the death of PSI.
However, the SHO proceeded on leave and the investigation was taken up by Inspector V P Samyal. The investigation of this case was transferred to Crime Branch Jammu and it was ascertained that the PSI was killed under a planned conspiracy.
Sewak and Ajay Gupta had a scuffle in August 1998 at Surankote and both of them had threatened to kill each other, the prosecution case revealed. It added that on the fateful night of October 13, 1998, Sewak had thrown a party, which was also attended by CO and 2/IC of 27 RR.
A local contractor Abdul Khaliq requested Sewak Singh to drop him at his residence but he asked PSI Ajay Gupta, driver Muhammad Akram, constable Abdul Razaq and accused constable Satpal Singh to drop him.
On their return, Satpal Singh sat on the rear seat behind PSI Ajay Gupta. While passing near TCP crossing, a shot was fired from inside the Gypsy, leading to on the spot death of the PSI. As the accused denied having fired, he suddenly jumped out of the vehicle and fired more shots in air. However, he was overpowered by Abdul Razaq and by the personnel of the nearby patrolling party of 83 Bn of CRPF and his weapon was seized. At the time of the incident, the PSI was in civil dress but the SP directed Chander Parkash and Muhammad Saleem to put uniform on his body. The matter was reported to police as an encounter and the police personnel were asked to give false account of the incident. It has come on record that a false FIR was registered and a false report was entered in daily diary of SOG. (JNF) |
