New Delhi, Sep 1: Supreme Court on Friday sentenced former Lok Sabha Member and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Prabhunath Singh from Bihar to life imprisonment in connection with the 1995 double murder case.
A bench of the Top court, led by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul pronounced the order. Singh was found guilty of the murders of Daroga Rai and Rajendra Rai. Additionally, he was convicted for attempting to kill a woman.
Earlier, the Court had set aside the Trial Court and Patna High Court order of his acquittal in the case.
The Apex Court further said that the State government and the convict also has to compensate the victims.
“Rs 10 lakh each compensation awarded for the families of both the deceased and 5 lakhs for the injured, to be paid both by the Bihar Government and the convict (Singh) separately,” the SC said.
The case involves a gruesome incident that occurred during the assembly election in Chapra of Saran district, in March 1995, where two individuals lost their lives. Their deaths were a result of their failure to vote in accordance with Prabhunath Singh’s choice and recommendations.
In December 2008, a trial court had acquitted Prabhunath Singh, citing lack of evidence, a decision that the Patna High Court subsequently also upheld in 2012. However, the acquittal was contested by Rajendra Rai’s brother, before the Supreme Court.
