Kamal Ghorui
RAIPUR: In a major development in the 2003 murder of NCP leader Ramavatar Jaggi, the Chhattisgarh high court has convicted former MLA Amit Jogi and sentenced him to life imprisonment, overturning his earlier acquittal in the case. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Arvind Kumar Verma set aside the 2007 trial court verdict that had given Jogi the benefit of doubt, and directed him to surrender within three weeks. The case relates to the killing of Ramavatar Jaggi, a businessman-politician and then state treasurer of the Nationalist Congress Party, who was shot dead in Raipur on June 4, 2003, when Ajit Jogi was serving as chief minister. The probe, initially conducted by state police, was later handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation amid allegations of bias. The agency filed an extensive chargesheet alleging a political conspiracy involving multiple accused. In 2007, a special CBI court convicted 28 persons and awarded them life imprisonment but acquitted Amit Jogi citing lack of evidence. The CBI challenged this acquittal, leading to a prolonged legal battle spanning over two decades. After procedural delays, the matter reached the Supreme Court, which remitted it back to the high court for fresh consideration. Allowing the CBI’s appeal, the high court has now reversed the acquittal, marking a significant turning point in the 23-year-old case. Reacting to the verdict, Jogi termed the decision “unexpected” and alleged that he was not given a full hearing. He said he would challenge the order in the Supreme Court, expressing faith in the judicial process. On the other hand, Satish Jaggi, son of the slain leader, welcomed the judgment, calling it long-awaited justice. “My stand has been vindicated. Today, my father has received true tribute,” he said. The case had once been described by political opponents as the first major political murder in the state after its formation, and the latest verdict is expected to have significant political and legal implications.
