Chhattisgarh HC sentences Amit Jogi to life in 2003 NCP leader murder case, overturns acquittal

The Chhattisgarh High Court has sentenced Amit Jogi, son of former chief minister Ajit Jogi, to life imprisonment in connection with the 2003 murder of Nationalist Congress Party leader Ramavatar Jaggi. The Division Bench overturned a 2007 trial court acquittal, holding that the earlier judgment was legally flawed and unsupported by evidence.

In its April 2 order, the bench observed that the trial court’s decision to acquit Amit Jogi was “palpably illegal, wrong, perverse” and contrary to the material on record. The court found him guilty under sections 302 (murder) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, thereby reversing a verdict that had stood for nearly two decades.

The case dates back to June 4, 2003, when Ramavatar Jaggi, a senior NCP leader and businessman, was shot dead in Raipur. According to the prosecution, the murder was part of a larger conspiracy aimed at disrupting a political rally. The investigation, initially handled by state police, was later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation, which filed charges against multiple accused, including Amit Jogi.

In 2007, a Raipur trial court convicted 28 individuals in connection with the murder but acquitted Amit Jogi due to lack of evidence. Subsequent appeals by the CBI and others were dismissed earlier on grounds of delay. However, the case took a fresh turn after the Supreme Court allowed the CBI’s delayed appeal to be heard, citing the gravity of the charges and directing the High Court to reconsider the matter on merits.

Reacting to the verdict, Amit Jogi termed the decision unjust, claiming he was not given a fair opportunity to be heard and expressing hope for relief from the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Satish Jaggi, the victim’s son, welcomed the judgment, stating that justice had finally been served. The ruling is expected to have significant legal and political implications given the high-profile nature of the case.