Additional Sessions Judge Bharat Jadav pronounced the sentence after meticulously evaluating testimonies from 84 witnesses and substantial documentary evidence, establishing the guilt of the accused for murder, criminal conspiracy, and related charges.
Background of the Case
The victim, Pankaj Trivedi, a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), was fatally assaulted with baseball bats and iron rods on June 15, 2006, near Ellisbridge Gymkhana in Ahmedabad. At the time of his death, Trivedi was actively associated with Swadhyay Parivar, a spiritual group for which he had facilitated raising substantial foreign donations intended for relief operations after the devastating 2001 Bhuj earthquake.According to the prosecution, conflict emerged after Trivedi raised questions regarding the appropriate use and disbursement of these international funds. His persistent inquiries and demands for transparency led to numerous complaints against him by other members of Swadhyay Parivar.
Escalation and Legal Battles
Tensions intensified after Trivedi sought accountability from the organization’s leadership, repeatedly requesting meetings to discuss the management of funds. These efforts, however, were met with resistance and eventual hostility from other members of the spiritual sect, leading him to approach the police for protection.Trivedi had also written to the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, identifying 30 members of the Swadhyay Parivar who, he claimed, should be held accountable if harm came to him or his associates.
In an effort to silence him, the accused initially pursued litigation against Trivedi in lower courts, the Gujarat High Court, and even the Supreme Court. However, these cases were all eventually dismissed, exacerbating their hostility towards him.
Convicted Individuals and Court Observations
The court identified and sentenced ten accused to rigorous life imprisonment:- Chandrasinh Jadeja
- Hiteshsinh Chudasama
- Dakshesh Shah
- Bhupatsinh Jadeja
- Mansinh Vadher
- Ghanshyam Chudasama
- Bharat Bhatt
- Bharatsinh Jadeja
- Chandrakant Daki
- Jasubha Jadeja
The court emphasized that these witnesses chose to side with "half-truths" despite being aware of both the factual truth and the gravity of the legal process. The implicated witnesses have been instructed to submit their explanations to the court by March 10.
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