The son of former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, Amit Jogi, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Chhattisgarh High Court in connection with the high-profile Jaggi murder case. This decision overturned his previous acquittal and has stirred up significant reactions within the state’s political sphere.
A division bench led by Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Arvind Kumar Verma declared that the trial court’s exoneration of Jogi in 2007 was legally flawed. They highlighted the inconsistency of absolving the alleged main conspirator while 28 other defendants had already been convicted based on the same evidence.
Amit Jogi was found guilty of murder and criminal conspiracy and was also fined Rs 1,000. The case originated from the fatal shooting of senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ramavatar Jaggi on June 4, 2003, which caused significant political turmoil. Initially, 31 individuals were named as suspects, leading to the conviction of 28 in 2007, with Amit Jogi being acquitted at that time due to insufficient evidence. However, persistent legal efforts by Jaggi’s son, Satish Jaggi, eventually led to the reopening of the case by the High Court.
In addition to Amit Jogi, the court upheld convictions for other defendants such as Yahya Dhebar, Abhay Goyal, Firoz Siddiqui, VK Pandey, and Chiman Singh. Amit Jogi’s legal team has submitted a Special Leave Petition (SLP) to the Supreme Court, indicating the possibility of further legal proceedings.
The recent convictions were pronounced by a division bench of the Chhattisgarh High Court, with Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Arvind Kumar Verma issuing a surrender order. Amit Jogi expressed his disappointment with the High Court’s decision, emphasizing his previous acquittal and the lack of opportunity to present his defense. He remains hopeful for justice through the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, Satish Jaggi welcomed the High Court’s ruling, stating that “Truth has prevailed.” He expressed gratitude towards the judiciary and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for ensuring justice for his father.