Bettiah: A court in West Champaran district on Monday sentenced a man to life imprisonment in a 14-year-old case in which he murdered his friend by allegedly administering poison. District and additional sessions judge-IV Manvendra Mishra of the Bagaha court convicted Md Ravil, alias Sonu, under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced him to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh. He was also awarded 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 328 IPC for administering a poisonous substance, with an additional fine of Rs 50,000.
The court directed that in case of non-payment of fines, the convict would have to undergo an additional three years of imprisonment on each count. Following the verdict, he was taken into custody and sent to jail.
Additional public prosecutor Mannu Rao said that in 2012, the accused allegedly mixed a sulphas tablet in liquor and forced the victim to consume it, leading to his death. A case was registered at Patkhauli police station after the incident, and the subsequent investigation found the allegations to be true.
The trial continued for several years, during which both the prosecution and the defence examined multiple witnesses. The court, before delivering the judgment, scrutinised witness testimonies, the post-mortem report, investigation records and other documentary evidence. After considering the evidence and arguments presented by both sides, the court held the accused guilty of murder and administering a poisonous substance.
This verdict brings closure to a case that had been pending for over a decade, highlighting the judicial system's commitment to delivering justice even in long-pending matters. The convict, now serving his sentence, was found guilty of a heinous crime that involved premeditated poisoning of a close acquaintance.
