SC sentences RJD leader Prabhunath Singh to life imprisonment in 1995 double murder case

The Supreme Court on Friday handed life imprisonment to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Prabhunath Singh in the double murder case of 1995, and also awarded a seven-year jail term for the offence of attempt to murder under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code.

The Supreme Court on Friday handed life imprisonment to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Prabhunath Singh in the double murder case of 1995, and also awarded a seven-year jail term for the offence of attempt to murder under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code.

With pronouncing its judgement in the case, a bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Abhay S. Oka and Vikram Nath also directed a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for both the  families of the deceased persons and Rs 5 lakh each for the injured.

The compensation is to be paid by the Bihar government and the convict separately.

On August 18, a special bench comprising Justices S.K. Kaul, Abhay S. Oka and Vikram Nath held the former Member of Parliament (MP) guilty in the case, reversing the acquittal decision rendered by the Patna High Court.

During the hearing on Friday, Justice Kaul said: “Life or death sentence, there are only two options.”

Senior Advocate R. Basant appearing for the respondent argued that in the case of Bachhan Singh it is stated that the graver option of sentence is chosen when the lesser option is unquestionably foreclosed.

“Do you seriously think we are considering the death penalty?” Justice Oka asked the Senior Advocate Basant.

Senior Advocate A.M. Singhvi argued that with two acquittals, the presumption of innocence is enhanced and that the review is pending on the matter. However, the bench said that the review will be decided later on in chambers.

The court was apprised that Singh is now 70 years old.

“Rest is up to God, whatever he gives him,” Justice Kaul said.

“Never seen a case like this before,” Justice Vikram Nath remarked.