Sharda Jain, five others get life terms in Atmaram murder case

New Delhi, Dec 22 (UNI) Sharda Jain and five others, convicted in the 2002 murder of Congress Councillor Atmaram Gupta, were today sentenced to life imprisonment by a city court.

The court had yesterday convicted Jain, a former MCD councillor and colleague of the victim, and five others in the case.

Three policemen found guilty of destruction of evidence in the case were also sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment by the court.

Additional Sessions Judge Bharat Parashar also slapped a fine of Rs 35,000 on Jain.

Atmaram Gupta was murdered in Ghaziabad's Chajjupur village on August 24, 2002. He was shot dead after a Congress rally in Ferozeshah Kotla grounds, from where he had left with Jain in her car.

Jain, Rajkumar and Roshan Pradhan were convicted on charges of criminal conspiracy and destroying evidence.

While Rajkumar was fined Rs 35,000, Roshan Pradan was fined Rs 40,000.

Three others-- Nirvikar, Pushpendra and Rajendra-- were also convicted for being accomplice to the crime.

Three Uttar Pradesh Police constables-- Shirpal, Satyendra and Rakesh Kumar-- were held guilty of destroying evidence. They had disposed off the victim's body by throwing it into the Sanota Canal.

A fine of Rs 5000 each has been imposed on them. They have been granted bail to file appeals.

According to prosecution, the motive behind the murder was jealousy as Jain believed that Atmaram (50), councillor from Tri Nagar, was getting ''too close'' to another woman councillor.

The prosecution had presented 76 witnesses in the court.

UNI XC/NR RS1712