The Core Developments
- Original Charges: The case was initially registered under Sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code against 20 individuals, including BJP candidate Arvind Pateria .
- New Charges: The state government, after a review of evidence, has dropped the murder charges. The case now falls under Section 304A of the IPC (causing death by negligence) .
- Updated Charge Sheet: A final charge sheet has been filed against 16 accused under sections including 304A, 147, 149, 294, and 506 of the IPC. Four individuals were removed from the FIR due to a lack of evidence .
How the Case Unfolded: From Political Clash to Accident
The incident dates back to November 17, 2023, around 2:40 AM, during the night of the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections .
According to reports, a dispute erupted between Congress MLA Kunwar Vikram Singh and BJP candidate Arvind Pateria in the Rajnagar constituency. The Congress MLA had reportedly received information that BJP workers were distributing money to voters, leading to a confrontation between the convoys of both parties .
During the argument, the MLA’s driver, Salman Khan, was standing nearby when a speeding car ran over him. Another Congress worker, Shivam Bundela, was also injured while trying to save Khan .
The vehicle involved was a black Scorpio, which was rented by Gaurav alias Vicky Baghel and driven by Narendra Tiwari. Both occupants later stated that they felt something under the car during the commotion, which turned out to be Salman .
Why the Charges Were Changed
The decision to drop the murder charges was based on a review of the evidence by the District Prosecution Officer (DPO) .
- Post-mortem Findings: The post-mortem report confirmed that Salman Khan died due to a vehicle collision, noting severe head injuries, multiple broken bones, and significant blood loss .
- No Intent to Murder: The DPO found no proof of deliberate murder. It was reported that BJP candidate Arvind Pateria's vehicle had already left the scene before Salman was hit by another vehicle from behind .
- Absence of Key Accused: Several accused were cleared for lack of evidence. Arvind Pateria's vehicle had departed, while others like Sanjay Mishra, Mukesh Pandey, and Dinesh Agnihotri were confirmed to be on election duty. The absence of Sandeep Agrawal and Kapil Soni was confirmed by CCTV and mobile data .
Based on this, the DPO recommended on September 11, 2024, that Sections 302 and 307 be removed and replaced with Section 304A. This recommendation was subsequently approved by the Superintendent of Police, Chhatarpur, on September 25, 2024 .
Initial Allegations and Political Fallout
The death of Salman Khan had immediately triggered a major political controversy. Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had taken the deceased worker's body to the Khajuraho police station and begun an indefinite sit-in protest .
He had demanded the arrest of BJP candidate Arvind Pateria, alleging that the Congress worker had been "mowed down" by the BJP candidate . The police had registered a case based on the initial allegations, but the subsequent investigation and forensic report have now led to a different legal interpretation of the event .
The Madhya Pradesh government's status report to the Supreme Court marks a significant turn in this politically sensitive case, concluding that the death, while tragic, was not a premeditated murder but an accident resulting from negligence.
The case continues under the new charges, and the judicial process will determine the final outcome.
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