Siwan: A special CBI court in Siwan is set to pronounce the sentence today against three convicts in the 2016 murder of senior journalist Rajdev Ranjan. On August 30, the court had convicted Vijay Kumar Gupta, Rohit Kumar Soni, and Sonu Kumar Gupta of murder, while acquitting three others—Laddan Mian, Rajesh Kumar, and Rishu Kumar Jaiswal—due to lack of evidence.
The case: Senior journalist shot dead in 2016
Rajdev Ranjan, a bureau chief of Hindi daily Hindustan, was shot dead on May 13, 2016, on Station Road in Siwan. He was returning from a hospital when assailants opened fire at close range, killing him on the spot. His murder had sparked outrage across the state and was widely seen as an attack on press freedom.
Family demands strict punishment
Speaking to media, Rajdev’s wife Asha Ranjan said, “His death completely changed the life of our family. I want the culprits to be given such punishment that sends a message to society—that no matter how powerful the criminal is, he cannot escape the clutches of law.”
CBI, defence arguments
CBI’s senior special public prosecutor Rakesh Dubey said, “We placed every evidence and witness strongly in court. In this case, many attempts were made to pressurize and influence the witnesses, but the truth finally came out. We are confident that the culprits will get severe punishment, and this decision will prove to be justice for the journalism world.”
On the other hand, defense lawyer Sharad Sinha argued that “many innocent people were implicated in this case,” pointing to the acquittal of three accused as proof of lapses in the investigation.
Case reached Supreme Court
Initially investigated by local police, the case was later handed over to the CBI following demands from the journalist’s family and the state government. The matter even reached the Supreme Court during its nine-year-long trial.
Controversy over acquittal
The acquittal of three accused has left the victim’s family disappointed. Asha Ranjan questioned the release of Laddan Mian, saying, “The court has acquitted a notorious person like Laddan. Now who will guarantee our safety? If he is released after spending nine years in jail, what is the guarantee that he will not harm us?”
According to her, Laddan, while lodged in jail, allegedly supplied weapons to the killers and passed on key details such as the color and number of Rajdev’s bike and the address of their house. She further claimed that Rishu Kumar Jaiswal was driving the bike during the attack, while Rohit Kumar Soni, riding pillion, fired the shots. Another accused, Rajesh Kumar, was allegedly involved as a “liner.”
Awaited sentencing
After nearly a decade of legal proceedings, three of the accused now await sentencing, which will be pronounced later today. The verdict is being closely watched by the media fraternity, civil society, and Rajdev Ranjan’s family, who continue to seek justice.
