Anger erupted outside a court in Chhattisgarh’s Dhamtari on Wednesday after five men were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of three friends in a case that shocked the district.

Relatives of the victims expressed disappointment with the court’s decision and demanded the death penalty for the convicts. As the accused were being taken out of the court premises, some family members threw shoes, slippers and stones at them, shouting, “What did you gain by destroying our families?”

The court had sentenced all five adult accused to life imprisonment in the triple-murder case.

Families Demand Death Penalty

The victims’ relatives said the three men had left behind young children and argued that life imprisonment was not sufficient punishment.

One relative became emotional while recalling a young daughter of one of the victims, saying the child still looks towards the door expecting her father to return with chocolates.

The families said they were unhappy with the sentence and would consider challenging the verdict in a higher court.

Police personnel maintained security outside the court as the convicts were taken away in a prison vehicle.

Three Friends Killed After Dispute

The incident took place near Annapurna Dhaba in Bhoyna village under the Arjuni police station area of Dhamtari on the night of August 11, 2025.

According to the prosecution case, five young men travelling in a car had gone out in Dhamtari and stopped near the dhaba to ask about something.

Eight people were already at the dhaba and were reportedly involved in an argument over payment of a bill. The group was allegedly damaging chairs at the establishment.

When the five youths got out of their car, an argument broke out between the two groups. The dispute escalated into verbal abuse and then a physical confrontation.

Knife Attack Killed Three

During the altercation, the main accused, Gopi Diwan, allegedly attacked three of the youths with a knife.

The victims were identified as Alok Singh Thakur, Nitin Tandi and Suresh Nihal.

All three died at the scene from injuries sustained in the attack. The injured victims were taken to hospital after the incident, while police launched an investigation into the killings.

The case subsequently became known as the Dhamtari triple-murder case.

Five Adults Among Eight Accused

Police arrested the accused following the investigation. The case involved five adult accused and three juveniles.

Public prosecutor Geetesh Prajapati said the five adult accused had been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the triple murder.

Additional sentences were also imposed for other offences. The accused received two years for rioting, five years for illegal possession of weapons and six months for assaulting others.

Gopi Diwan, Kuleshwar Netam and Ranveer Sahu were separately sentenced in the weapons-related case.

The prosecutor said sentences of up to three years would run concurrently.

Verdict Delivered Within a Year

The prosecution said the case was decided within roughly a year.

The charge sheet was submitted before the court on November 11, while the verdict was pronounced on August 12, 2026.

The prosecution had sought the death penalty for the accused, while the victims’ families had also demanded capital punishment.

However, the court awarded life imprisonment to the five adult accused.

The verdict was delivered by First Additional Sessions Judge Mohan Singh Korram.

Families May Challenge Verdict

The victims’ families have indicated that they are considering an appeal against the sentence.

Their reaction outside the court reflected the anger and grief that has continued since the three young men were killed.

The case had also drawn attention because of the circumstances surrounding the victims’ deaths and the impact on their families, including young children who lost their fathers.

With the five accused sentenced to life imprisonment, the next legal step could now come from the victims’ families if they decide to challenge the punishment before a higher court.

The judgment was delivered by the Court of the Sixth Additional Sessions Judge, which held the accused guilty of murder after examining eyewitness testimony, forensic evidence and other material presented during the trial.

The case dates back to January 28, 2024, when Chakradhar Nagar police received information that a man had been found dead near the main road in Navapali village. The victim, identified as Vishal Singh Thakur, had suffered multiple fatal injuries to his head and neck caused by a sharp-edged weapon.

Police reached the spot, registered a case and began an investigation. During the preliminary inquiry, investigators inspected the crime scene, collected physical evidence and recorded statements from eyewitnesses.

According to the prosecution, Vishal Singh Thakur had been supervising land levelling and bush-clearing work on a disputed piece of land when an argument broke out with Harilal Khadia over the filling of soil on the property.

The dispute allegedly escalated, following which the accused attacked Vishal repeatedly with an axe, inflicting severe injuries to his head and neck. The victim died at the scene.

Investigating officers seized several articles from the crime scene, including the victim's motorcycle, blood-stained cap, spectacles, footwear and soil samples. These materials were later sent for forensic examination as part of the investigation.

Police arrested Harilal Khadia on January 29, 2024. During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted to committing the crime. Based on his disclosure, investigators recovered the axe believed to have been used in the attack along with blood-stained clothing.

The recovered articles were forwarded to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), whose findings were presented during the trial as supporting evidence.

During court proceedings, Additional Public Prosecutor Tanmay Banerjee represented the prosecution, while the investigation was led by Inspector Prashant Rao Aher. The prosecution examined 20 witnesses and relied on documentary, forensic and scientific evidence to establish the sequence of events.

After evaluating the evidence and hearing arguments from both sides, the court concluded that the prosecution had proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

The court convicted Harilal Khadia under the relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code for murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment. It also imposed a fine of ₹100.

In addition to the sentence, the court recommended that the victim's family receive ₹1 lakh as compensation under the Chhattisgarh Government's Victim Compensation Scheme, recognising the impact of the crime on the deceased's dependants.

The verdict brings the trial to a close more than two years after the fatal incident and reinforces the importance of forensic evidence and eyewitness testimony in securing convictions in serious criminal cases.

A sessions court in Gwalior has sentenced two men to life imprisonment for the brutal abduction and murder of a 12-year-old boy, holding them guilty of carrying out the crime as an act of revenge after the victim's sister was married to someone else.

Additional Sessions Judge Dhirendra Singh Parihar convicted the main accused, Shivam alias Tota Kushwah (23), and his associate Aman Goswami alias Yogi (21) for kidnapping, murder and destruction of evidence. The court also imposed financial penalties on both convicts, describing the crime as exceptionally cruel. The verdict was delivered nearly 19 months after the incident, with the prosecution relying heavily on digital and forensic evidence to establish the accused's involvement.

Revenge Motive Behind the Crime

According to the prosecution, Shivam was in a relationship with the victim's elder sister, Nandani. While both families had initially agreed to their marriage, opposition from the girl's stepfather led to the proposal being called off. The family later arranged Nandani's marriage with another man.

Investigators said Shivam harboured resentment over the marriage and allegedly decided to take revenge by targeting her younger brother, 12-year-old Hem Singh Rajput, instead of confronting the family directly.

Lured to Fair, Killed in Forest

The prosecution told the court that on July 29, 2024, Hem left home to visit the Gupteshwar Mahadev fair. During his journey, Shivam allegedly contacted the boy over the phone and persuaded him to meet on the pretext of taking him around the fair.

Shivam, along with Aman, allegedly kidnapped Hem and took him to an isolated forest area near Dev Kho Road in the Tighra police station limits. After consuming alcohol, the two allegedly attacked the child with large stones, inflicting fatal head injuries and crushing his jaw.

To conceal the crime, the accused buried the body beneath heavy stones before fleeing the spot.

Digital Evidence Cracked the Case

The victim's body was discovered the following day after a shepherd noticed flies hovering over stones in the forest and found the child's fingers protruding from beneath them.

Police launched an intensive investigation using digital evidence. CCTV footage from liquor shops near Tighra and Dev Kho Road allegedly captured the accused with the victim shortly before the murder and showed them purchasing alcohol.

Investigators also matched the mobile phone locations of both accused with the crime scene. Call detail records established that the final call received by Hem before his disappearance was from Shivam.

The combination of CCTV footage, mobile location data and call records formed the backbone of the prosecution's case and played a decisive role in securing the conviction.

Court Calls Crime 'Shocking'

While pronouncing the sentence, the court observed that the murder of an innocent child to settle a personal grudge was a crime that shook human conscience.

The judge noted that taking the life of a minor over a failed relationship or family dispute was unacceptable under any circumstances and warranted strict punishment under the law.

The prosecution maintained that the verdict sends a strong message that crimes driven by personal revenge, particularly those involving children, will be dealt with firmly by the justice system.

Nearly five years after one of Ratlam's most chilling crimes, a sessions court has sentenced three men to triple life imprisonment for the murder of an entire family on the night of Chhoti Diwali. The mastermind behind the killings, however, never made it to trial — he was shot dead in a police encounter just days after the crime.

On the night of November 25, 2020, Govind Solanki, his wife Sharda, and their daughter Divya were shot dead inside their home in the Rajiv Nagar area of Ratlam. All three were shot in the head. The crime went undetected through the night. It was only the next morning that a tenant nurse named Jvelika, living on the ground floor, noticed her Activa scooter was missing. When she went upstairs to ask the landlord about it, she found three bodies on the floor, blood still pooling around them.

Police combed through CCTV footage from the crime scene and surrounding routes. The footage led them to Noori Guest House in Indra Nagar, where one of the accused — Anurag alias Bobby — was eventually traced. Under questioning, he named the others: Dilip Deval, Lala Bhabor, and Golu Bilwal. The latter two were arrested soon after. Dilip Deval, the mastermind, fired at the police team sent to apprehend him and was killed in the retaliatory action on December 4, 2020. A pistol, live cartridges, and looted jewellery were recovered from his rented house.

The case that went to trial rested heavily on forensic evidence. Additional Public Prosecutor Samarth Patidar said 111 material exhibits, 210 documents, and 33 witnesses were placed before the court. DNA from the victims was found on the clothes and footwear of the accused. The scooter used to flee the scene carried Lala's DNA on the handlebars. Ballistic analysis confirmed that the bullets were fired from the pistol recovered from Dilip Deval's house.

Additional Sessions Judge Rajesh Namdev convicted Anurag alias Bobby (33), Golu alias Gaurav (29), and Lala Bhabor (27) on charges of murder and robbery, sentencing each to triple life imprisonment along with a fine.

Dilip Deval was no ordinary criminal. He was a fugitive from Gujarat's Dahod jail, where he had been imprisoned for murder, and had absconded on parole, living in Ratlam under false identity documents. Investigators found he had deliberately chosen the night of Chhoti Diwali so that gunshots would be drowned out by the noise of firecrackers. A separate killing in Ratlam's Kasturba Nagar on May 18, 2020 was also linked to him and his associates.

After the encounter, then Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had called Deval a "narpishach" — a human demon — saying such people had no right to live in society. All three surviving accused have been in custody since December 2, 2020.

A chilling double murder case from Chhattisgarh’s capital Raipur has once again drawn attention after the High Court upheld the life imprisonment awarded to the accused, describing the crime as “extremely cruel and barbaric.” The division bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal dismissed the appeal filed by accused Vicky alias Sukhiram Yadav, who had challenged the trial court’s verdict in the sensational 2021 murder case involving his girlfriend and her innocent daughter.

The horrific incident took place in Raipur’s Telibandha area and had shocked the entire state because of the brutality involved. According to the prosecution, the accused murdered his girlfriend by slitting her throat and later killed her young daughter by leaving her on a railway track, where she was run over by a goods train. The court observed that the crime was not accidental or committed in sudden anger, but was a carefully planned act intended to eliminate both victims and escape legal consequences.

Court records reveal that the woman had earlier filed a rape case against Vicky alias Sukhiram Yadav. Following the complaint, the accused had been arrested and sent to jail. However, after securing bail, he allegedly came under continuous pressure from the woman to marry her. The woman reportedly warned him that if he refused marriage, she would pursue the rape case strongly in court and ensure he received punishment.

Investigators said the accused wanted to avoid both marriage and legal complications. As a result, he allegedly planned the murder in advance. On the night of January 22, 2021, he called the woman near Jora Maidan in Raipur under the pretext of meeting her. During the meeting, he attacked her with a knife and slit her throat, killing her on the spot. Police later recovered the woman’s body from the area.

What made the crime even more disturbing was the murder of the victim’s young daughter. According to the prosecution, after killing the woman, the accused became afraid that the child could expose him or become evidence against him. To eliminate all traces of the crime, he took the little girl to a nearby railway track and left her there. Soon afterward, a goods train ran over the child, leading to her tragic death.

The brutal nature of the murders triggered widespread outrage in the region. The following morning, the accused reportedly went to former village sarpanch Rikhiram Sahu and confessed his crime. Based on the information, police arrested him and launched a detailed investigation. During interrogation and forensic examination, investigators collected several crucial pieces of evidence linking him directly to the murders.

The trial court, after examining witness statements, forensic reports and other material evidence, convicted the accused on July 19, 2022. He was found guilty under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for murder and Section 201 for destruction of evidence. The court sentenced him to life imprisonment.

However, the accused later approached the High Court challenging the verdict. His counsel argued before the court that the incident occurred in a sudden fit of anger and was not pre-planned. The defense also claimed that the accused was mentally disturbed at the time of the incident and therefore deserved leniency.

The High Court rejected all such arguments. In its detailed observation, the division bench stated that the sequence of events clearly showed preparation and intention. The court pointed out that the accused had carried a knife to the meeting spot, which indicated prior planning. The bench further observed that the earlier threats made by the accused and his actions after the murder strongly proved that he acted deliberately.

The court also relied heavily on forensic and scientific evidence. DNA analysis and forensic science laboratory reports confirmed the presence of human blood on the knife used in the crime and on the clothes of the accused. The judges noted that this evidence conclusively established his involvement and left no room for doubt.

Calling the murders “heinous,” the High Court emphasized that such crimes cannot be viewed with sympathy. The bench remarked that the murder of a helpless child in such a manner reflected extreme brutality and a complete disregard for human life. The court further stated that the accused attempted not only to kill the victims but also to destroy evidence in a calculated way.

Legal experts say the judgment reinforces the judiciary’s strict stand against crimes involving violence against women and children. The case also highlights how forensic evidence and scientific investigation are playing an increasingly important role in securing convictions in serious criminal matters.

The incident had deeply disturbed residents of Raipur when it first came to light in 2021. Many local organizations and women’s groups had demanded the harshest possible punishment for the accused, calling the murders inhuman and unforgivable. With the High Court now dismissing the appeal, the life sentence awarded by the trial court remains in force.

---------

Amit Jogi Jaggi Murder Case: HC Declares Him Mastermind, Awards Life Term

Chhattisgarh High Court has convicted Amit Jogi as the mastermind in the 2003 Ramavatar Jaggi murder case and sentenced him to life imprisonment, overturning the CBI special court’s 2007 acquittal order after 23 years.

High Court Overturns Acquittal  

A division bench led by Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha rejected the trial court’s decision to acquit Amit Jogi while convicting 28 others. The bench termed the earlier order “illegal and ridiculous”, noting it defied the evidence on record.

Amit Jogi Named Mastermind  

The 78-page judgment held Amit Jogi as the “principal architect” of the conspiracy. The court observed that as the son of then Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, he possessed the influence and resources to orchestrate the killing and later manipulate the investigation.

Political Rivalry Triggered Killing  

The murder stemmed from deep political friction in 2003. Vidyacharan Shukla, upset over Ajit Jogi’s appointment as Chief Minister, quit Congress and joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). He made Ramavatar Jaggi, a prominent businessman and close aide, the party treasurer ahead of Assembly elections. NCP’s aggressive rallies across Chhattisgarh, especially in Raipur, were seen as a direct challenge to the ruling Congress.

Hotel Meeting Key Evidence  

CBI’s 1,000-page charge sheet cited crucial testimony from Reginald Jeremiah, then director of Akash Channel. He told the court that on 21 May 2003, Amit Jogi held a meeting at Raipur’s Hotel Green Park and openly stated that Jaggi “had to be eliminated” to stop NCP’s momentum. Jeremiah said he was directed to pay Rs 5 lakh to the main shooter, Chiman Singh, in Kolkata.

Shooter Paid Rs 5 Lakh  

Investigations revealed Chiman Singh was an old acquaintance of Amit Jogi. Phone records, witness accounts from Hotel Green Park staff and CM House security personnel established repeated meetings before and after the crime. The court noted that arrangements for the shooter’s stay in Raipur were made by people close to Amit Jogi.

Fake Arrests Exposed in Probe  

The bench pointed out that police, allegedly in collusion with powerful elements, arranged the surrender of five fake accused to mislead the investigation. These individuals—Vinod Singh alias Badal, Shyam Sunder alias Anand Sharma, Jambvant Kashyap, Avinash Singh alias Lallan and Vishwanath Rajbhar—were later convicted but later acquitted. The High Court said such large-scale manipulation could not have occurred without high-level protection.

Appeal Pending in Supreme Court  

The murder took place on 4 June 2003 in Raipur’s Maudahapara area. Initial police theory of robbery quickly gave way to political murder allegations. CBI took over the probe after BJP’s Raman Singh government came to power later that year. The special court had awarded life sentences to several accused including shooter Chiman Singh, but spared Amit Jogi.  

The High Court verdict has now reopened the chapter. Amit Jogi has moved the Supreme Court against both the CBI’s appeal permission and the conviction order. Senior lawyers including Kapil Sibal, Mukul Rohatgi, Vivek Tankha and Siddharth Dave argued the matter on 20 April, claiming violation of natural justice principles. The apex court is expected to take up the case soon.

This development in the Amit Jogi Jaggi Murder Case has once again brought focus on political violence in the state and the long wait for justice in high-profile cases.

Amit Jogi Gets Life Term In Jaggi Murder Case After 20 Years

Chhattisgarh High Court says discrimination among accused with similar evidence not permissible; Amit Jogi, son of former CM Ajit Jogi, convicted in 2003 murder of NCP leader Ramavatar Jaggi

Life Term For Amit Jogi

In a significant development in Chhattisgarh’s high-profile Ramavatar Jaggi murder case, the state High Court on Wednesday sentenced Amit Jogi – son of former chief minister Ajit Jogi – to life imprisonment. A special division bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Arvind Verma delivered the verdict, overturning the 2007 trial court order that had acquitted him.

The court observed that when all accused face similar charges and evidence, no single accused can be deliberately treated differently. “Discrimination among accused on identical evidence is not permissible unless a concrete and separate reason for acquittal is proven,” the bench noted.

Court’s Strong Observation

The division bench made it clear that acquitting one accused while convicting others on the same set of evidence is legally untenable. Sources indicated that the judges found no exceptional ground to spare Amit Jogi when 28 other accused had already been held guilty. The ruling effectively closes a legal loophole that had kept the former CM’s son out of prison for nearly two decades.

The 2003 Murder Case

Ramavatar Jaggi, a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and close associate of former Union minister Vidyacharan Shukla, was shot dead in Raipur on June 4, 2003. The murder sent shockwaves through Chhattisgarh’s political circles. Following allegations of bias and dissatisfaction with the initial police probe, the state government handed over the investigation to the CBI.

The central agency subsequently charged 31 accused, including Amit Jogi, with murder and criminal conspiracy. Two accused – Baltu Pathak and Surendra Singh – turned government witnesses during the trial.

Previous Acquittal Overturned

On May 31, 2007, a special court in Raipur had granted Amit Jogi the benefit of doubt and acquitted him. The victim’s son, Satish Jaggi, challenged this acquittal before the Supreme Court. The apex court stayed the trial court’s order and later transferred the case back to the Chhattisgarh High Court for a fresh, detailed hearing.

Two years ago, the division bench had already dismissed appeals filed by other convicts in the case, upholding their life sentences. The Supreme Court then accepted a CBI appeal and directed the High Court to re-examine Amit Jogi’s role comprehensively.

Conspiracy Allegations

Appearing before the High Court, Satish Jaggi’s counsel B.P. Sharma argued that the murder conspiracy was “sponsored by the then state government.” He alleged that critical evidence was destroyed under government influence once the CBI probe began. “In such a case, evidence alone is not decisive – the conspiracy must be uncovered,” Sharma had submitted.

According to officials familiar with the proceedings, the bench found merit in the argument that all accused operated with a common intention, making selective acquittal unjustified.

Other Convicts Named

Among the 28 individuals earlier convicted in the Jaggi murder case are two former CSPs (superintendents of police), a former police station in-charge, Yaaya Dheber – brother of former Raipur mayor Ejaz Dheber – and shooter Chiman Singh. The High Court has now added Amit Jogi to the list of those serving life terms.

What Lies Ahead

Legal experts tracking the case say Amit Jogi is likely to appeal the verdict before the Supreme Court. His legal team had earlier maintained that the CBI’s chargesheet lacked direct evidence against him. However, with the High Court’s categorical ruling on discrimination in evidence, any further appeal faces an uphill climb.

The Jaggi murder case remains one of Chhattisgarh’s most politically sensitive trials. For now, the family of Ramavatar Jaggi has welcomed the verdict, calling it “justice after 20 years of waiting.” This latest news today underscores how courts are scrutinising selective acquittals in high-profile murder cases. As an India news update, the ruling reinforces the principle that identical evidence must lead to identical outcomes – regardless of the accused’s political background. For readers of any English news portal India, this verdict stands as a landmark on evidentiary fairness in criminal law.