Chhattisgarh HC orders Amit Jogi to surrender in 23-year-old murder case

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Raipur, April 2 (IANS) In a significant development, the Chhattisgarh High Court has delivered a major blow to Amit Jogi, son of former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, declaring him a convict and ordering him to surrender within three weeks in the high-profile Ramavtar Jaggi murder case.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha pronounced the order while hearing proceedings in the 2003 murder of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ramavtar Jaggi.

The court directed Amit Jogi to appear before it within the stipulated period.

The case dates back to June 4, 2003, when Ramavtar Jaggi was shot dead in Raipur. A total of 31 individuals were named as accused in the sensational political murder. Two of them — Baltu Pathak and Surendra Singh — turned approvers and became government witnesses.

While 28 accused were convicted by the trial court, Amit Jogi was acquitted, citing insufficient evidence.

Following the acquittal, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) submitted an extensive 11,000-page investigation report, which included charges against Amit Jogi.

The case saw multiple legal twists; Satish Jaggi, son of the slain leader, challenged the acquittal in the Supreme Court. The apex court initially granted a stay in favour of Amit Jogi and later transferred the matter to the Chhattisgarh High Court for fresh consideration.

After years of litigation, the Supreme Court in November 2025 condoned a significant delay by the CBI and directed the High Court to re-examine the appeal against Amit Jogi’s acquittal on merits.

The High Court has now reopened the proceedings, leading to the latest order directing his surrender.

Reacting sharply to the verdict, Amit Jogi took to his X handle and expressed deep disappointment.

In his post addressed to “Dear Friends and Well-wishers”, he wrote: “Today, the Honourable High Court allowed the CBI’s appeal against me in a mere 40 minutes – without granting me an opportunity to be heard. I regret that a person whom the court had previously acquitted has now been convicted without being granted a single opportunity for a hearing. This is unprecedented. The court has granted me a period of three weeks to surrender. I feel that a grave injustice has been done to me. I have full faith that I will certainly receive justice from the Supreme Court. I repose my complete faith in the judicial system. I am moving forward with absolute peace, faith, and patience. Truth shall surely prevail. I urge you all to pray for me and continue to bestow your blessings upon me. Jai Chhattisgarh.”

The murder had rocked Chhattisgarh when Ajit Jogi was the Chief Minister. Allegations at the time had pointed to a political conspiracy, though the trial court had acquitted Amit Jogi while convicting others.

Amit Jogi’s legal team is likely to explore available options, including possible appeals.

–IANS

sktr/dpb

Related Posts

Five detained after man dies in Kolkata’s RG Kar hospital, culpable homicide case filed (Lead)

Kolkata, March 20 (IANS) The policemen of Tala police station under the Kolkata Police, on Friday, detained five persons for questioning in connection with the death of a person Arup Bandopadhyay after getting trapped in the elevator of state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata and remaining trapped there for more than an hour.

Based on a general diary filed by Amal Bandopadhyay, the father of the deceased person, the police officers of the Tala police station had registered an FIR in the matter by invoking sections under culpable homicide.

Meanwhile, the preliminary post-mortem report of the deceased person indicated fractures in the rib bones, hand bones, and leg bones, as well as ruptures in his lungs, heart, and liver.

Amal Bandopadhyay went to the hospital on Friday morning to enquire about the medical condition of his minor son, who was admitted to the trauma care unit of the hospital.

Arup got trapped in the elevator of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, and after more than an hour, his body was recovered from there.

There were allegations that no elevator operator was present during the mishap that took place while Arup was trapped in the elevator, which got stuck in the midway, for more than an hour, and during that period, no hospital staff or elevator operator was available to reactivate the elevator.

R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital Medical Superintendent, Saptarshi Chattopadhyay, told media persons that the complaint filed by Arup’s father with the hospital authorities has been forwarded to the Tala police station.

“The family members of the deceased person have alleged that he got injured after getting stuck in the elevator. The elevator was running properly. A button was pressed, after which the elevator went up and down. They panicked. According to the deceased’s family member, the elevator landed at a place. The three people trapped inside went to get out. But there was a collapsible gate outside the elevator. At that time, the deceased person attempted to get out of the elevator, it started going up again. At that time, the deceased got stuck between the elevator and the wall. These are the claims of the deceased’s family members,” Chattopadhyay said.

He also admitted that the absence of the elevator operator or any supporting staff was an administrative lapse.

The R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital has been in the national headlines over the rape and murder of a woman doctor of the hospital within the premises on August 2024 morning.

Later, an investigation also started over the massive financial irregularities at the hospital, and there is a large-scale perception that the heinous rape incident took place as the victim became aware of those financial irregularities.

Sandip Ghosh, former principal of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, accused of being the mastermind in the financial irregularities involving the hospital, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation and is currently lodged in jail.

–IANS

src/khz

Maternal deaths: K’taka BJP holds protest, urges Cong govt to give Rs 25 lakh ex-gratia to victims’ families

Shivamogga (Karnataka), Jan 4 (IANS) The Karnataka BJP on Saturday staged a large protest in Shivamogga condemning the “anti-people” policies of the Congress government, which has shown negligence despite the series of maternal deaths occurring across the state.

The BJP expressed outrage over the state government’s apathy, saying that despite the ongoing deaths of mothers and newborns from impoverished families and public demonstrations highlighting these tragedies, the Congress government has failed to take stringent measures.

The BJP warned that the curses of the common people and the poor would eventually fall upon the government for its indifference.

Speaking at a protest organised by the BJP Women’s Wing on Saturday, the State BJP President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra urged Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to immediately announce a minimum compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the families of deceased’s mothers if he has any humanity or respect for the position of Chief Minister.

Vijayendra demanded that State Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, and the Women and Child Welfare Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar resign from their posts.

He emphasised that the state government should adopt the orphaned children, adding, “Only then can God forgive you.”

He accused the Congress government of being intoxicated with power and claimed that it was BJP’s responsibility to fight against this corrupt and negligent administration.

Vijayendra said that the BJP Women’s Wing has been organising protests across the state to address the deaths of mothers and newborns.

He also demanded that the state government immediately announce Rs 25 lakh compensation package and take responsibility for the children’s welfare.

“This shameful government needs to be taught a lesson through BJP’s continued struggle,” he asserted.

Vijayendra also said that a letter would be sent to the National Human Rights Commission to bring attention to the issue and hold the state government accountable.

He assured that the BJP would work to ensure justice for the affected families.

He called upon the state government to wake up and fulfill their demands without delay.

MLA S.N. Channabasappa, MLC Dhananjay Sarji, state coordinators of various BJP cells like S. Dattatri, District President T.D. Megharaj, BJP Women’s Wing District President Gayathri Devi, Medical Cell Coordinator Hemant, Women’s Wing leaders, party members, and activists were present.

–IANS

mka/khz

We will not meddle with temple, school properties: K’taka Waqf Minister

Bengaluru, March 16 (IANS) Minister for Waqf and Housing B.Z. Zameer Ahmad Khan stated that the Waqf Board will not meddle with any properties attached to temples or schools.

He made the statement in the Legislative Assembly on Monday while answering a question by senior Congress MLA M.Y. Patil.

Minister Zameer said, “I have clearly stated that we will not meddle with any properties belonging to temples. We will also not touch the properties of schools or educational institutions.”

“We are only focussed on private parties encroaching upon Waqf properties. In most cases, the encroachers are Muslims,” he said.

Zameer said that across the state, Waqf Board properties are estimated to cover 1.12 lakh acres. However, the total land currently available with the Waqf Board is only 24,054 acres.

About 17,580 acres of land has been encroached upon, 47,263 acres went under Inam Abolition, and 23,627 acres went under the Land Reforms Act, he said.

“After the Congress-led government assumed office in Karnataka, I formed Waqf Lok Adalats to identify and recover Waqf properties that have been encroached upon,” he said.

He said that Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashoka, and other BJP leaders must understand that the reason for forming the Waqf Adalats is to address the issue of encroachment on Waqf properties.

“The total Waqf properties are over 1,12,860 acres. These are not properties given by the government. They were donated by private individuals for the welfare of the community. Out of this, about 17,969 acres have been encroached upon,” Minister Zameer stated.

“The encroachments have not been carried out by temple managements or others. The encroachers are from the Muslim community,” he said.

“To remove encroachments, I formed Waqf Adalats. However, the BJP created a huge controversy during the Belagavi Winter Session. That is why I am clarifying this,” Minister Zameer said.

R. Ashoka said, “I know that in Kalaburagi and surrounding areas, Muslims have encroached upon Waqf properties. That is not the question we raised.”

“We questioned the Waqf Board claiming properties such as the government school where poineering Indian civil engineer, Sir M. Visvesvaraya studied and temple lands as Waqf properties,” he said.

“Earlier, temple and Waqf lands were donated to farmers and they have been carrying out agriculture on them for generations. If farmers are in possession of the land, it should be left to them irrespective of whether they are Hindus or Muslims,” Ashoka said.

“Let there be an investigation into Waqf encroachments. In Bengaluru, the famous Windsor Manor hotel is located on such land. Mr. Zameer, you did not mention it and instead talk about other issues. You do not talk about it at all. Not even once have you mentioned it, perhaps because you go there for coffee and food,” Ashoka chided.

Minister Zameer stated that the matter is with the Supreme Court.

Earlier, senior Congress MLA M.Y. Patil raised the issue in the Assembly regarding the encroachment of Waqf properties by private parties during the Question and Answer session.

MLA Patil said that in and around Afzalpur town in Kalaburagi district, documents show that several properties belong to the Waqf. “We are not in a position to take up any government projects and have to look for private land,” he said.

“However, these properties are currently in the possession of private parties. They are not under the control of either the Waqf Board or the government,” he added.

–IANS

mka/rad