COURT SENTENCED AN ACCUSED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT

COURT SENTENCED AN ACCUSED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT

28-MAY-ENG 6

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BUXAR---------------------------In the widely discussed murder case of Ravi Ranjan Pathak—which occurred approximately a year and a half ago—the court delivered a significant and stern verdict on Wednesday, sentencing the accused to life imprisonment. The court of District Additional Sessions Judge-08, Sunil Kumar Singh, convicted the murder accused—identified as Manu Kanu (alias Omprakash)—and imposed both a life sentence and a monetary fine. Following the court's verdict, the victim's family breathed a sigh of relief, while the trial proceedings and the investigation into the case once again became a topic of public discussion.

The court sentenced the accused to rigorous life imprisonment and a fine of ₹50,000 under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). In the event of non-payment of the fine, the accused will be required to undergo an additional six months of imprisonment.

Furthermore, for the charges of concealing evidence and disposing of the body, a sentence of seven years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹10,000 was imposed under Section 201 of the IPC. A provision for an additional three months of imprisonment has been stipulated in case of non-payment of this fine. Additional Public Prosecutor Daddan Kumar Singh stated that the incident took place on January 11, 2024. Ravi Ranjan Pathak, a resident of Gaighat, had gone to demand the repayment of outstanding dues... G. Kolekar had visited Noniapur village, located within the jurisdiction of the Krishnabrahm Police Station. Subsequently, he went missing under suspicious circumstances. After extensive searching yielded no leads, his elder brother, Bhrigunath Pathak, lodged a missing person report at the Brahmpur Police Station.

During the course of the investigation, on January 13, 2024, the police recovered Ravi Ranjan's motorcycle from near the accused's residence. Acting on this crucial lead, the police took the accused into custody for interrogation. During questioning, the accused broke down and confessed to the murder. Based on the information provided by him, Ravi Ranjan Pathak's body was recovered from a field of pigeon peas (Rahar) situated near the house. The discovery of the body sent shockwaves through the locality. During the trial, the prosecution presented compelling evidence and witnesses. Deeming the police investigation, the recoveries made, the circumstantial evidence, and the witness testimonies to be significant, the court pronounced the accused guilty. The verdict remained the subject of intense discussion throughout the day within the court premises.