An Aligarh court has sentenced two men to life imprisonment for the abduction and murder of a 19-year-old student in 2021, stemming from a financial dispute. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 45,000 on each of the convicts.
Court Verdict
Additional District and Sessions Judge Ravish Kumar Atri convicted Yogendra and Pradeep for kidnapping, murder, destruction of evidence, and criminal conspiracy in the killing of Hrithik, a resident of Laxmipur under Bannadevi police station limits, according to ADGC Tarun Kumar Verma.
Incident Details
Hrithik went missing from his home on July 15, 2021. Nearly two weeks later, his family received a ransom call demanding Rs 10 lakh, which prompted the police to intensify the investigation.
Investigators uncovered a long-standing dispute between Hrithik's father, Kishan, and their neighbor Yogendra's family over an unpaid loan of Rs 1 lakh. Police alleged that Yogendra, Pradeep, and a minor accomplice plotted the crime and later demanded ransom to divert suspicion.
Legal Proceedings
A case was registered under sections 302 (murder), 364-A (kidnapping), 201 (destruction of evidence), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code. The breakthrough came after police traced the ransom call to the minor accused, who disclosed the involvement of the two men, leading to their arrest.
Based on information gathered during the investigation, police recovered Hrithik's body on July 29 from a drain near a private school. The body had been stuffed into a plastic sack and discarded among garbage.
Sentencing
“After examining the evidence, the court found both accused guilty and awarded life imprisonment,” Verma said, adding that proceedings against the minor are continuing before a separate court.
