Chandigarh/ Shimla: In a landmark judgment, the Special Judge for CBI Cases, Chandigarh, Ms. Alka Malik, convicted eight police officials for the custodial murder of Suraj, an accused in the infamous Gudiya rape and murder case.
The verdict was pronounced on January 18, 2025, with the quantum of sentence scheduled for January 27.
The convicted officials include:
1. Z.H. Zaidi, the then IGP (SR) Shimla
2. Manoj Joshi, the then Dy.SP Theog, Shimla
3. Rajinder Singh, the then SI/SHO PS Kotkhai
4. Deep Chand, the then ASI PS Kotkhai
5. Mohan Lal, the then Head Constable
6. Surat Singh, the then Head Constable
7. Rafee Mohammad, the then Head Constable
8. Ranjeet Steta, then Constable
They were found guilty under IPC Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 330 (torture to extract confession), 348 (wrongful confinement), 218, 195, 196, and 201 (fabrication and destruction of evidence).
However, CBI Court discharged DW Negi, the then SP Shimla as it didn’t find any evidence against him in the case.
The Case Background
The case dates back to July 2017, when the body of a minor girl, referred to as Gudiya, was discovered in the Hailaila forest of Kotkhai tehsil in Shimla district.
Anger by the brutality and bestality of the crime, residents formed Gudiya Nyay Manch that sparked protest in Shimla and other parts of Himachal.
The state government constituted SIT led by Z.H. Zaidi to investigate her rape and murder, leading to the arrest of six suspects.
However, during the investigation, one of the accused, Suraj, died in police custody due to alleged custodial torture.
In an attempt to cover up the incident, the SIT officers filed a false FIR, accusing another arrested person, Rajinder @ Raju, of murdering Suraj.
The Himachal Pradesh High Court later transferred both the Gudiya case and the custodial death case to the CBI, which re-registered the FIRs and took over the investigation.
CBI Investigation and Trial
The CBI's investigation revealed that all six suspects arrested by the SIT in the Gudiya case, including Suraj, were innocent and had been falsely implicated.
The agency also exposed the custodial torture and subsequent cover-up by the police officials.
Based on the evidence, the CBI charged the accused officials with criminal conspiracy, torture, fabrication of false evidence, and destruction of evidence.
In the Gudiya rape and murder case, the CBI arrested Anil @ Nilu, a Charani laborer who was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by a trial court.
Transfer of Trial
Due to the sensitivity and public outrage surrounding the cases, the Supreme Court transferred the trial from Shimla to Chandigarh.
The sentencing on January 27 will be keenly watched as the victims’ families and the public await closure.
