Bihar MLA murder case: Charges framed against Rupam Pathak

Patna, Jun 10: A CBI court here today (June 10) framed charges against school teacher Rupam Pathak in connection with Purnia BJP MLA Raj Kishore Kesari murder case.

Designated CBI judge Basant Kumar Singh, who concluded the hearing on June 8, framed charges under section 304 (culpable homicide not not amounting to murder) for holding a speedy trial.

Singh fixed June 16 as the date for taking up deposition of witnesses and examination of the documents. CBI had on April 2 filed charge sheet against Pathak under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder).

There are altogether 17 witnesses and 23 documents to support the charge.

Pathak had allegedly stabbed to death Kesari at his house at Purnia on January 4, 2011 for allegedly sexually harassing her. The supporters of Kesari caught her and beat her mercilessly before handing her over to police.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had on January 8 recommended a CBI probe into the case following a written request by Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who had taken a U-turn three days after giving a clean chit to the dead legislator in the sexual harassment case.

He had urged Kumar to order a CBI investigation into the case as people would doubt the Bihar police findings since Kesari was a ruling party MLA.

PTI