scorecardresearch
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Support Our Journalism
HomeJudiciarySC orders release of ex-Army man who killed a gunner ‘in delusion...

SC orders release of ex-Army man who killed a gunner ‘in delusion of militant attack’

In June 2003, convict Virender Prasad shot another gunner from his own Army regiment. He was sentenced to a life term.

Follow Us :
Text Size:

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has ordered the release of a former Army gunner, who had killed another gunner “in a state of sleep” and had been in jail for 16 years for the crime.

On Wednesday, a top court bench comprising Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde, Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice Surya Kant took note of the submissions made by the convict, Virender Prasad that he fired the shots under the delusion that a terrorist attack was underway.

“Undisputedly, the appellant was posted in Kashmir area, at a time when the State was undergoing the threat of terrorism at its peak. The appellant, after the incident, immediately came out of the tent, surrendered himself, and gave an explanation that he had fired the rifle under a delusion that there was a terrorist attack,” the court observed.

It also noted that Prasad’s behaviour in jail has been “excellent”.

While upholding his conviction, the court took note of the fact that he had already spent over 16 years in jail and directed him to be released.


Also read: CAA is a ‘benign’ law, scope for judicial review is limited, Modi govt tells SC


The case details

Prasad was enrolled in Indian Army’s Signals Corps and was posted to HQ & Radar Battery of 20 Surveillance and target acquisition regiment since October 2002. He was sent to Peer Badeshwar Radar post in Jammu and Kashmir in May 2003.

A month later, in June 2003, he shot another gunner, Sushil Kumar, who was of the same regiment. Prasad fired a complete magazine of rifle ammunition on Kumar, resulting in the latter’s death. He then surrendered before the senior authorities and confessed to the crime.

Prasad was charged under Section 69 of the Army Act for committing a civil offence of murder and was found guilty in the Summary General Court Martial in August 2004. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and was dismissed from service.

His conviction was upheld by the Ministry of Defence and the Chief of Army Staff, as well as the Armed Forces Tribunal.

State of delusion

According to the judgment, Prasad now told the Supreme Court that he was “in a delusion of a militant attack, wherein he was firing in retaliation”, and that he had no control over his senses.

While the court upheld his conviction, it felt that Prasad’s sentence deserved to be considered.

It noted that a convict sentenced to life imprisonment cannot be considered for release, unless he has actually served 14 years in jail.

As Prasad had already spent more than 16 years in jail, the court directed his release, observing, “In the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, we are of the view, that the sentence already served by the appellant is much more than proportionate to the offence proved against him.”


Also read: ‘Don’t want to be rapist’s widow’: Wife of 16 December gangrape convict seeks divorce


 

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube, Telegram & WhatsApp

Support Our Journalism

India needs fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. ThePrint – with exceptional reporters, columnists and editors – is doing just that.

Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.

Whether you live in India or overseas, you can take a paid subscription by clicking here.

Support Our Journalism

1 COMMENT

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular