Chopra family murder case
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 8: In the much publicized Chopra family murder case, Principal Sessions Judge, Jammu, Jang Bhadur Singh Jamwal, today framed charges against 13 accused including former MLC of National Conference, Tarlochan Singh Wazir, and Choudhary Nagar Singh while as process under Section 512 CrPC has been initiated against other two accused—Kiran Pradhi and Sanjay Kumar.
The charges against Mahesh, Russi, Vicky, Nanju, Bhawani Singh, Sikander, Narinder and Sangram Singh have been framed under Sections 302/396/201 RPC while as Dalip has been facing charges under Sections 302/ 396/120-B/109 RPC. Similarly, Ajab Singh, Tarlochan Singh Wazir, Ch Nagar Singh and Rajinder Singh are facing charges under Section 302/120-B RPC.
The Court of Principal Sessions Judge, Jammu has also fixed four days calendar for recording the evidence in the case.
After hearing battery of lawyers, Principal Sessions Judge observed, “the statements of various prosecution witnesses—Surinder Singh alias Kala, Harminder Paul Singh, Rajinder Singh alias Raju, Rohit Chopra and Dinesh Kumar under Section 161 CrPC and 164 CrPC prima facie establish that the accused Ajab Singh, Tarlochan Singh, Nagar Singh and Rajinder Singh hatched the criminal conspiracy and executed the same”.
“There is sufficient evidence to proceed against other accused. The entire case hinges upon the circumstantial evidences, which are required to be proved like a complete chain. The Court doesn’t agree with the counsels for the accused that at this stage, the accused can be discharged”, the Principal Sessions Judge said, adding “the law on the subject is that at the time when the charge or discharge is to be considered, the Court has only to consider material brought on record and the material and documents on which the prosecution is relying upon”.
“At the stage of framing of charge, the Court is required to evaluate the material and documents on record with a view to find out, if the facts emerging there have been taken out on their face value. The rulings produced by the counsels for accused have also unequivocally held that the Court at the time of framing of charge has to restrict itself to the extent of only sifting and weighing the evidence for the purpose of charge and has not to give a final verdict and the consequences of the case”, Principal Sessions Judge said.
“So far as delay in surfacing of witnesses is concerned, it is a matter for the trial and an opportunity has to be granted to the prosecution to explain the delay and that can only be done when the opportunity is granted to the prosecution to lead the evidence. The validity of narco analysis has to be taken into account when the trial proceeds”, the Court said.
“The Court is agreed with the learned Special PP L K Sharma that unless the prosecution is given an opportunity to explain its omissions or any doubtful situation, without affording an opportunity to the prosecution, the real facts are not likely to come surface”, the Principal Sessions Judge further observed.
“The arguments raised by the counsels for accused, at this stage, are not tenable and I am satisfied that there is sufficient material on record to implant charge on the accused”, the Judge said.
Accordingly, prima-facie offences under Sections 302/396/201 RPC were made out against the accused Mahesh, Russi, Vicky, Nanju, Bhawani Singh, Sikander, Narinder and Sangram Singh and they were charged for the same offences.
Similarly, prima-facie offences under Sections 302/396/120-B/109 RPC were made against accused Dalip and he was charged for the same offences. The charges under Sections 302/120-B RPC were framed against Ajab Singh, Tarlochan Singh, Nagar Singh and Rajinder Singh.
According to the police case, on September 18, 2006, cement tycoon Rajinder Bhushan Chopra, his wife Madhu Chopra, daughter Saloni Chopra, servant Sonu and driver Jagan were brutally killed at the residence of R B Chopra in Sector No. 3 of Trikuta Nagar.
Accordingly, a case was registered and post-mortem of the bodies was conducted. The statements of various witnesses were also recorded and ultimately a challan against accused Mahesh, Russi, Vicky, Nanju, Bhawani Singh, Sikander, Narinder and Dalip was produced before the Court. However, the investigation was kept on for collecting further evidence.
During the course of further investigation, it came to fore that Sangram Singh, Kiran Pardi, Mahesh, Russi, Sikander, Nanju, Narinder, Vicky and Bhawani had committed the offence and Dalip had helped them in reaching from Gona to Delhi and then Delhi to Gona (MP). Except accused Sangram Singh and Kiran Pardi, challan was produced in the Court and proceedings under Section 512 CrPC were initiated against accused Sangram Singh and Kiran Pardi.
Later, Sangram Singh was arrested by Madhya Pradesh police and produced in the Court. Thereafter brain mapping and narco tests were conducted on him in Gujrat and supplementary challan against the accused Sangram Singh was produced in the Court on October 4, 2010.
During further investigation, a new team under the supervision of DIG, Jammu was constituted and this team arrested Ajab Singh and sent him to Gujarat for narco and brain matching tests. It came to fore that Ajab Singh had hired killers to murder R B Chopra and his family and he had also participated in the gruesome murder.
During the investigation, involvement of Tarlochan Singh Wazir also surfaced and it came to light that Tarlochan Singh had informed Ajab Singh about Supari killer Sanju. One H P Singh was also interrogated during the investigation and he disclosed that R B Chopra was having business with accused Nagar Singh group. After disclosure of accused, eight more accused were arrested and in August 2010 the custody of accused Sangram Singh was given to new police team.
It was established from the statements of some of the witnesses that motive behind the murder was business of loading and unloading of cement, sleeper and tar coal at Railway Station.
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