Chhattisgarh fast track court orders death penalty to three accused in 2024 double murder case
A fast-track court in Chhattisgarh on Thursday sentenced three convicts, including a former National Students’ Union of India district president, to death, while one has been sentenced to life imprisonment in the 2024 Surajpur double murder case.
District and Additional Sessions Judge (FTC) Anand Prakash Wariyal convicted all four accused in the case and awarded the death penalty to three of them and life imprisonment to one.
The accused have been identified as Kuldeep Sahu (32), Chandrakant Chaudhary (28), Phool Singh alias Rinku (28) and Aryan Vishwakarma alias Goldy.
Court’s Observation in Surajpur Double Murder Case
The court had earlier sentenced prime accused Kuldeep Sahu to ten years in prison for attacking cops and trying to mow them down with a vehicle before the double murder.
Government advocate Surendra Sharma said that the court noted, “It is necessary to punish the criminal as per his or her crime so that proper message is sent to the public.”
Government advocate Sharma said that the prime accused was seen smiling while leaving the court. Interacting with reporters, he said that the accused showed no remorse for his actions and smiled while leaving the court.
“Even though the judge has not made any comment about this, it was discussed in the society and the entire region that the criminal does not regret his actions even after committing the crime,” he said.
Details of the Incident
History-sheeter Sahu killed the 35-year-old wife of a police head constable on October 13, 2024, and their minor daughter at their home in Surajpur district with the help of accomplices Chaudhary, Vishwakarma and Singh.
Representing the head constable, advocate Sharma argued before the court that the woman was also subjected to sexual assault and her minor daughter was brutally attacked and killed in the incident. He told the court that there were 33 injury marks on the woman’s body and 28 on the child’s body.
“The gravity of the offence was very serious and it was committed without any provocation,” Sharma said, adding that he cited Supreme Court judgments to argue that punishment for the accused should serve as a deterrent and prevent similar crimes.
During the hearing, he pleaded that the punishment be proportionate to the gravity of the offence.
Blood, Fingerprint Evidence Against Accused
Investigations revealed that the blood found on the clothes of the accused matched that of the mother-daughter duo. Fingerprint evidence collected from the site also matched Sahu.
Their bodies were later dumped by the accused at Pidha village, around four kilometres from their home, police said.
Family Welcomes Court’s Decision
The elder brother of the policeman, welcoming the court’s decision, said, “It is a good decision. We were expecting such a verdict. This decision will help us cope with the grief. Our family has suffered immensely. We are satisfied with the verdict.”