SIX GET LIFE IMPRISONMENT

SIX GET LIFE IMPRISONMENT

19-AUG-ENG 5

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA------------------------A court in Patna delivered a major verdict on Tuesday regarding the murder of Shivnarayan Ram, a Political Science professor at TPS College. The court of District and Additional Sessions Judge-24, Rajiv Ranjan Sahay, sentenced six accused—including the victim's biological brother, Virendra Kumar (who works in the Merchant Navy)—to life imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of ₹10,000 each on five of the convicts and ₹15,000 on the sixth. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional six-month prison term for the convicts.

The incident dates back to January 29, 2020. Shivnarayan Ram was shot dead in the Chandmari Road area. The incident caused a sensation in the locality. The police initiated an investigation and identified a dispute stemming from personal relationships as the primary motive behind the murder.

During the investigation, the police discovered that Shivnarayan Ram's biological brother, Virendra Kumar, was involved in a romantic relationship with his sister-in-law. This had led to a conflict between the two brothers. It was alleged that, due to this dispute, Virendra conspired with his friends to murder Shivnarayan.

According to the prosecution, Virendra Kumar hatched the murder plan along with his associates. Subsequently, on January 29, 2020, Shivnarayan Ram was shot on Chandmari Road. He died after being shot.

Following an investigation into the incident, the police took action against the accused involved, and the case proceeded to court. Based on the evidence and witnesses presented by the prosecution during the trial, the court found six accused individuals guilty.

Delivering the verdict, District and Additional Sessions Judge-24 Rajiv Ranjan Sahay sentenced the six accused to life imprisonment. Among them is the deceased's own brother, Virendra Kumar. The court imposed a fine of ₹10,000 each on five of the accused and ₹15,000 on the sixth.

The court further clarified that if the convicts fail to pay the fine, they will have to undergo an additional six months of imprisonment. With this verdict, a crucial stage of the judicial process in this murder case—dating back nearly six years—has concluded.

The case had been a subject of public discussion ever since the murder of Shivnarayan Ram. The fact that a professor was shot dead—and that a family dispute lay behind it—added gravity to the matter. Following the police investigation and a prolonged court trial, six accused have now been sentenced to life imprisonment.

This court ruling paves the way for sentencing following the establishment of guilt. A provision for an additional six-month jail term in the event of non-payment of the fine has also been included. Thus, the court has delivered its verdict in the January 29, 2020, murder case of Shivnarayan Ram by sentencing the six accused to life imprisonment.