The Gaya district court on Wednesday handed life term to Rocky Yadav, son of suspended Janata Dal (United) MLC Manorama Yadav, and two others in connection with the murder of class XII student Aditya Sachdeva. His father Bindi Yadav has been sentenced to five years imprisonment. Rakesh Kumar Ranjan alias Rocky was found guilty under sections 302, 323 and 427 of the Indian Penal Code as well as Section 27 of the Arms Act. However, his lawyer Anil Sinha said that the decision would be challenged in the Patna High Court. The other two who were awarded life imprisonment are Manorama Devi’s bodyguard Rajesh Kumar and Rocky’s cousin Teni Yadav. The judge also slapped Rs one lakh fine on Rocky Yadav, Rs 50,000 on Bindi Yadav, while Rs 10,000 penalty was imposed on each of the other two life convicts.
Here’s everything you need to know about the case that garnered a lot of attention and outrage in the past one year.
The incident
Aditya Sachdeva was murdered by Rocky on the night of May 7 last year in a case of road rage. According to Indian Express, Rocky Yadav was travelling to Gaya from Bodhgaya in his SUV. He was accompanied by his bodyguard Rajesh Kumar at the time of the incident. Suddenly, the JD(U) legislator’s son got into a heated argument with the occupants of a Maruti car who were not letting him overtake. Sachdeva was one of the occupants and was in the backseat. Following a scuffle, Rocky lost his temper and fired at the victim with his licensed pistol. The bullet pierced through the windshield and hit Sachdeva’s head. He died on way to the hospital while the accused fled the spot.
How the case proceeded
After the news got spread, Rocky was nabbed by the police from a dairy farm in Bodh Gaya. A Beretta pistol was seized from his possession. Later on, the police found that the legislator’s son had procured the license for the weapon from a Delhi Police license unit. He was subsequently sent to a 14-day judicial custody by the court in Gaya. Later, his bodyguard, as well as father Bindi Yadav, were also arrested.
Shyam Sachdeva and Chanda Sachdeva, Aditya’s parents with his photograph after Rocky Yadav was convicted. (Photo: PTI)
Soon after the incident, the Janata Dal (United) suspended Manorama Devi for a period of six years. The police had said that Rocky confessed to his crime but pleaded innocent before the media and claimed that he was not in Bihar at the time of the shooting.
Rocky Yadav has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a court in Gaya. (Photo: PTI)
Also read: Who killed Gauri Lankesh? 7 conspiracy theories surrounding the journalist’s murder
Witnesses hostile
In the past one year, the case underwent several twists as several friends of the victim turned hostile before the court. His friends Ayush Agrawal, Ankit, Nasser Hussain and Mohammad Kaifi were among the 35 eyewitnesses in the high-profile murder case. They told the court that Rocky was present at the spot but later changed their statements. Despite the hostile witnesses, the prosecution was able to nail Rocky on the basis of scientific evidence.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar had met Sachdeva’s family members last year and ordered a speedy investigation into the case. The cops had managed to complete the probe in three weeks and the chargesheet was filed within a month.
However, all hell broke loose when Rocky was granted bail by the Patna High Court on October 19 last year. The state government challenged the bail granted to him in the Supreme Court.
Government of Bihar is going to appeal against bail granted to Rocky Yadav by honourable Patna High Court in Gaya road rage case
— Janata Dal (United) (@JanatadalU) October 20, 2016
Justice at last
On October 28 last year, the Supreme Court stayed the bail granted to Rocky Yadav. In March this year, the apex court not only cancelled the bail of the accused but also directed the lower court to complete the trial within six months. He got convicted on August 31 wherein public prosecutor Sartaj Ali Khan demanded capital punishment for him. Finally, justice prevailed and Rocky Yadav was handed a life term by the court.
We are satisfied, respect court’s verdict: Aditya Sachdeva’s parents Chand and Shyam Sachdeva after Rocky Yadav’s conviction. pic.twitter.com/4GoIFabHid
— ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2017
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