AJAY GUPTA MURDER CASE
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Second Additional Sessions Judge Jammu M.K Sharma on Wednesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants against then Superintendent of Police Operation Poonch Sewak Singh and his PSO Sat Pal Singh, convicted and awarded life-imprisonment for committing the murder of PSI Ajay Gupta.
The sentence has been confirmed by the High Court.
During the pendency of the appeal, both the accused were granted bail by the High Court but after confirming sentence they had not surrendered before the Court.
After going through the case file, the Judge observed that the convicts Sewak Singh and Sat Pal Singh did not surrender before the Court. The Court issued non-bailable arrest warrants against both the accused and sent to SSP Jammu for execution.
According to the prosecution case, on 13th of October 1998 evening, a party had been hosted in the house of accused Sewak Singh. Commanding Officer and 2/ IC of 27 RR, one Abdul Khaliq, a local contractor and PSI Ajay Gupta participated in the party. The CO, 2 IC and Abdul Khaliq left after sometime. However, Abdul Khaliq returned back with more alcohol and had drinks with PSI Ajay Gupta.
Later, contractor Abdul Khaliq requested Sewak Singh to drop him at his residence, who asked PSI Ajay Gupta (deceased), driver Mohammad Akram, Constable Abdul Razaq and accused Constable Satpal Singh to him at his residence. Accused Sewak Singh had whispered something to accused Satpal Singh while others were boarding the official Gypsy No. JK02E 8692. Accused Sewak Singh checked thrice as to whether all had boarded the Gypsy. Abdul Khaliq along with his PSO Shakeel Ahmed was dropped at his residence.
On return, accused Satpal Singh sat on the rear seat behind PSI Ajay Gupta and while passing near TCP crossing, a shot was heard inside the Gypsy.
The driver looked behind. The door of the Gypsy was found closed at the relevant time.
The driver and the SPO Mohammad Akram saw the SLR of Constable Satpal Singh in firing position aimed at PSI Ajay Gupta, who had fallen in the lap of the driver. At this, Mohammad Akram told Constable Satpal Singh that he had fired but he denied, saying the fire had come from outside. Thereafter, both of them argued that there was no possibility of the fire to come from outside in a bullet proof Gypsy. At the same moment, Mohammad Akram shouted that Satpal Singh had killed Ajay Gupta. The vehicle was stopped and Constable Satpal Singh jumped out and fired more shots in the air. However, he was over powered by Abdul Razaq and by the nearby patrolling party of 83 Bn. of CRPF and his weapon was seized. Constable Abdul Razaq immediately ran towards to the location of the SP Operation with the seized SLR and informed him that Satpal Singh had killed Ajay Gupta. At this, Constable Abdul Razaq was asked by SP (Operation) to shut his mouth. Thereafter, Abdul Razaq handed over the SLR of accused Satpal Singh to accused Sewak Singh (SP Operation). It was further found in the investigation that body of PSI Ajay Gupta was lying in the hospital and SLR was found with accused Satpal Singh again. JNF