In a historic legal decision, Additional Sessions Judge, Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan on Friday sentenced 30 convicts to life imprisonment with a fine between Rs 2000 to Rs. 50,000 in a case related to the murder of Phool Mohammed Khan, then SHO of Man Town Police Station in Sawai Madhopur (Rajasthan) and other offences in 2011.

The CBI had registered the instant case on June 30, 2011 on the request of the Rajasthan government and took over the investigation of the case earlier registered with State Police.

During communal riots in the area, the SHO who was injured took refuge in his official vehicle. However, the vehicle was burnt by a riotous mob, wherein Phool Mohammad got burnt alive.

After the incident, the local police registered a case at Man Town Police Station, Sawai Madhopur on March 17, 2011 against 21 accused and unknown others under relevant sections of IPC & Prevention of Damage to public property act 1984 and immediately the case was transferred to CID Rajasthan.

After initial investigation, the CID Rajasthan filed a charge sheet against 19 accused before CJM, Sawai Madhopur on 21.06 2011 and further investigation was kept open.

After the investigation, the CBI filed a supplementary chargesheet on December 15, 2011 against 89 accused including two Juveniles in conflict with law, police officials, etc.  During investigation, it was found that Mahender Singh Tanwar, then deputy superintendent of police (DSP) had a personal grudge against then SHO Phool Mohammed on various pretext.

Thus, he allegedly conspired with another accused of the area and collusively abetted the offence by instigating the protestors and spoke against the said SHO.  Moreover, on the day of the incident he fled the spot instead of taking control of the situation and falsely informed supervisory officers that he was controlling the situation at the place of occurrence.

During trial, five accused expired and three were absconding. The trial of two juveniles in the conflict with law was separated and the same is going on before the Juvenile Justice Board, Sawai Madhopur.

The trial court convicted 30 accused on November 16, 2022 out of 79 facing trial.

The convicted persons are:  Mahendra Singh Tanwar , the then Dy. SP Sawai Madhopur; Radheshyam Mali; Parmanand Meena; Ballo Mali; Prithviraj Meena; Ramcharan Meena; Chiranjilal Mali; Sher Singh Meena; Harji Mali; Ramesh Meena; Kalu; Bajranga Khatik; Murari Meena; Chaturbhuj Meena; Banwari Meena S/o Jagganath Meena; Ramkaran Meena; Hansraj Mali; Shankar Lal Mali; Banwari Meena S/o Prabhu Meena; Dharmendra Meena; Guman Meena; Yogendra Nath; Brijesh Mali; Hanuman Daga; Ramjilal; Makhan Meena; Rambharosi Meena; Mohan; Mukesh Mali  and Shyamlal Mali.