Verdict in Jaggi murder case tomorrow

Raipur, May 30 (UNI) The verdict in the much-publicised Ram Avtar Jaggi murder case, in which former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi's son Amit is among 31 accused, is expected tomorrow.

Additional Sessions Judge and Special Judge (Atrocities) B L Tidke, after hearing final arguments, had set May 31 for pronunciation of the verdict. Amit is in judicial custody after the Supreme Court cancelled bail granted by the state High Court while some of the other accused are out on bail.

During the trial's course, two of the accused turned approvers and the court examined 154 witnesses. Twenty-seven turned hostile.

Three police officials, including a city superintendent of police, who earlier investigated the crime were among the accused as the CBI charged them with arresting persons who were not the ''original accused.'' State NCP Treasurer Ram Avtar Jaggi was gunned down by unidentified persons on June 4, 2003, six months before Chhattisgarh's maiden assembly poll. Opposition parties termed it a political murder and demanded a CBI probe.

Though the state police arrested five criminals from Uttar Pradesh claiming that they killed Mr Jaggi during attempted robbery, the victim's family alleged cover-up by police and pressed for a CBI inquiry.

After the BJP came to power in December 2003, the state government decided to hand over the probe to the central investigating agency. Subsequently, the CBI arrested 31 accused, including Amit and charged him with criminal conspiracy and murder.

UNI