Bettiah: In a major development in the 27-year-old Tipu Pandey murder case, the court of District and Additional Sessions Judge IV Manvendra Mishra on Thursday convicted Guddu Gupta alias Chandra Prakash Gupta. The accused was immediately taken into police custody after the verdict. His sentence will be pronounced on September 9.
Public Prosecutor Jitendra Bharti said the verdict was originally scheduled for September 3 but was deferred after the accused sought a three-day extension, citing illness through a medical report. The final hearing in the case was completed on August 22, during which both the prosecution and defense presented evidence and arguments.
Co-Accused Already Sentenced
Earlier, on June 12, 2025, co-accused Vipin Singh was sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with the case. During the investigation, the police had recorded the statements of the victim’s mother, Radha Devi, and his brother, Jaiprakash Pandey, under Section 164 of the CrPC. Both had testified that Tipu Pandey was murdered by Guddu Gupta and Vipin Singh together.
The 1998 Murder Incident
The case dates back to 1998, when construction work on the Bagha–Chhitoni railway line-cum-road was underway. At the time, Tipu Pandey, a resident of Bankatwa, was working as a clerk at Sushil Kumar Gupta’s establishment in Bagha market. On the morning of the incident, around 8:45 am, Pandey had gone to the construction site to demand wages.
According to court records, Guddu Gupta responded with the words, “Today we will settle your account,” before shooting Pandey dead on the spot.
Nearly Three Decades for Justice
After almost three decades of legal proceedings, the conviction marks a significant step towards justice for the victim’s family. The judgment has revived public discussion around the high-profile case in Bettiah and surrounding areas.
The sentencing of Guddu Gupta on September 9 is expected to bring closure to one of the region’s most talked-about murder trials.
