Supreme Court Grants Bail To Convict Yahya Dhebar In NCP Leader Ram Avatar Jaggi Murder Case Of 2003
After nearly two years in custody, the Supreme Court yesterday granted bail to convict-Yahya Dhebar in the 2003 murder case of Nationalist Congress Party leader Ram Avatar Jaggi.
A bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and K Vinod Chandran suspended Dhebar's life sentence and ordered his release subject to payment of fines, and terms and conditions to be imposed by the trial court.
The Court noted that other similarly situated co-convicts had been granted similar relief and released on bail. It further observed that in a connected matter, CBI's appeal against acquittal of one of the accused had been allowed by a 3-judge bench and the matter relegated to the High Court for consideration on merits. Also, revision petitions filed by the de-facto complainant were pending before the High Court.
As such, the bench did not deem it fit to hear the appeals by convict-appellants at this stage. To await the decision of the High Court, the bench adjourned the matter and decided to put an end to Dhebar's custody.
"In such a situation, we do not think it would be proper that the applicant, Yahya Dhebar, should continue to remain in prison, when other similarly situated co-convicts have been granted the relief of suspension of sentence and consequential bail. The sentence of imprisonment imposed upon the applicant, Yahya Dhebar, that stood confirmed by the High Court, shall stand suspended on payment of the fine amounts. The applicant shall be released on bail on such appropriate terms and conditions as may be fixed by the trial Court."
The Court adjourned the appeal sine die, asking the parties to mention the case for re-listing after the matters before the High Court get decided. At the same time, the High Court was requested to expedite the matters before it, to the extent possible.
Dhebar had been in prison since 30.04.2024. He was convicted by a Special Court at Chhattisgarh vide judgment dated 31.05.2007 for offences under Sections 302/120B of the IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment. His appeal before the High Court was dismissed in 2024, after which he approached the Supreme Court.
Background
During the tenure of Chhattisgarh's first Chief Minister, Ajit Jogi, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ram Avatar Jaggi was shot dead in Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, on June 4, 2003. This murder, which occurred during the state's assembly elections, caused widespread upheaval throughout the region.
The investigation into the high-profile murder case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). A total of 31 suspects were implicated in the case, including two key witnesses, Balu Pathak and Surendra Singh. Except for then ex-CM Ajit Jogi's son, Amit Jogi, 27 others were convicted in this case. All the accused had challenged the lower court's verdict in the High Court.
In April 2024, the Chhattisgarh High Court upheld the conviction and life imprisonment sentences of 28 individuals in the case.
Case Title: YAHYA DHEBAR v. STATE OF CHHATTISGARH, Crl.A. No. 4805/2024