Supreme Court Sentences Ex-Bihar RJD MP to Life for Double Murders
Former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Prabhunath Singh has received a life sentence from the Supreme Court in connection with the 1995 Mashrakh double murder case. As part of the verdict, the court has also ordered compensation of Rs 10 lakh to be provided to the families of each of the deceased victims and Rs 5 lakh to the families of those who were injured.
During the court proceedings, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul posed a crucial question, suggesting two stark options: either a life sentence or the death penalty. Subsequently, Justice Vikram Nath inquired about Prabhunath Singh’s age. His lawyer responded that he is 70 years old. In response, the judge made a profound remark, stating that the ultimate decision rests with God, as such a case had never been encountered before.
It’s worth noting that Prabhunath Singh had been acquitted in the same case by a Patna court in 2008. However, the Patna High Court upheld this decision in 2012. Subsequently, the victim’s brother pursued justice by appealing to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court concluded the hearings for this case on August 18, eventually finding Prabhunath Singh guilty. Presently, Prabhunath Singh, aged 70, is serving a life sentence in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh Central Jail for his involvement in the MLA Ashok Singh murder case.
2 Killed for Not Voting
In 1995, during the Bihar assembly elections, a tragic incident unfolded near a polling station in Mashrak, Chhapra. The victims of this unfortunate event were 18-year-old Rajendra Rai and 47-year-old Daroga Rai, both of whom met a tragic end through gunfire. Curiously, neither of them had the opportunity to cast their votes, and this fact was attributed to the influence of Prabhunath Singh.
Remarkably, this election also witnessed the victory of Ashok Singh over Prabhunath Singh. However, what followed was a sinister turn of events. Prabhunath Singh, seemingly driven by revenge, issued a chilling threat against Ashok Singh, vowing to end his life within 90 days.
Tragically, the threat materialized as Ashok Singh was assassinated on the 3rd of July in 1995. This date held significant symbolism, as it marked exactly the 90th day of Ashok Singh’s tenure as an MLA. The circumstances surrounding his death remain shrouded in mystery and intrigue.
Who is Prabhunath Singh?
Prabhunath Singh’s political journey started in 1985 when he won his first election as an independent candidate in Mashrak. In 1990, he became an MLA from Lalu Prasad’s party.He also won Lok Sabha elections from Maharajganj in 1998, 1999, 2004, and 2013. In 1995, after the assassination of MLA Ashok Singh, Ashok’s brother Tarkeshwar Singh won the by-elections.
Prabhunath Singh faced controversy when he was accused of threatening the District Magistrate, Kundan Kumar, during an election campaign. He was alleged to have told the DM to buy a shroud. Two police cases were filed against him, but Prabhunath Singh later denied these allegations and provided his own explanation. Additionally, he had a long-standing rivalry with former Siwan MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, resulting in clashes between their supporters and tension in the area.
Nitish Continues to Criticize Sonia Gandhi
In April 2009, Prabhunath Singh stirred controversy by bringing up Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin. He openly expressed his disapproval, stating, “I do not like her face, her voice, and her language.” In addition to his criticism of Sonia Gandhi, he also lauded RJD president Lalu Prasad while simultaneously voicing his disapproval of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Prabhunath’s Son Said- Thinking About the Review Process
RJD MLA Ranjit Singh, who is the son of Prabhunath Singh, has shared that they are currently considering the next steps in their legal process. They are in the process of engaging in discussions with other senior advocates in the Supreme Court in Delhi. Any updates or developments will be communicated once they make progress in this matter.
