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Key accused in VHP leader Vikas Prabhakar’s murder case held in Punjab

A key suspect in the high-profile murder case of Vikas Prabhakar, also known as Vikas Bagga, president of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) Nangal unit, has been arrested, the Delhi Police disclosed on Monday.

Statesman News Service | New Delhi | August 19, 2024 4:31 pm

Key accused in VHP leader Vikas Prabhakar’s murder case held in Punjab

[Representational Photo : iStock]

A key suspect in the high-profile murder case of Vikas Prabhakar, also known as Vikas Bagga, president of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) Nangal unit, has been arrested, the Delhi Police disclosed on Monday.

Vikas Bagga was shot dead on April 13, 2024 at his confectionery shop in Nangal, Punjab. The case was initially registered at the Nangal police station in the Rupnagar district of the state before being transferred to the NIA in May 2024 considering the seriousness of the matter.

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The accused, identified as Dharminder Kumar, also known as Kunal, a 22-year-old resident of Ludhiana, Punjab, Kumar is accused of supplying the weapons used in the assassination of Vikas Prabhakar. He has a history of involvement in the illegal arms trade with two cases under the Arms Act previously registered against him in Madhya Pradesh and Punjab, said Police

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Kumar was apprehended during a joint operation conducted by a special cell of the Delhi Police, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) from Sherpur Kalan in Ludhiana in coordinated efforts and timely intelligence sharing between the Delhi Police and the NIA.

During interrogation, Kumar reportedly confessed to his involvement in the crime. According to the accused’s statement, after being released from jail in April this year, he contacted an individual based in a Middle Eastern country through social media, who allegedly instructed him to arrange weapons, which he procured from Madhya Pradesh and supplied to the assailants.

The has been arrested by the NIA under multiple charges, including relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Arms Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UA(P) Act), 1967.

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# India

The Kerala High Court, on Thursday, granted bail to M K Nasar, one of the individuals convicted by the special NIA court last year in the case of chopping the hands of Professor T J Joseph in 2010. A division bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice P V Balakrishnan suspended Nasar’s sentence and granted conditional bail to him after considering his appeal against the NIA court’s conviction in the case Considering the prolonged detention and citing the potential for trial delays, the court suspended Nasar’s sentence and granted conditional bail, taking into account that some co-accused with similar allegations had already been released after serving shorter terms. The court noted that he had already spent nine years in jail and that delays in resolving appeals could justify suspending a convict’s prison term. It also observed that other accused in the case had received lesser sentences and had already been released after serving their terms. “The applicant has been undergoing incarceration, at the pre-conviction and post-conviction phases, for over 9 years. Furthermore, the fact that the accused facing the same allegations were earlier imposed a lesser term of imprisonment and have been released after having undergone the sentence is a factor that cannot be ignored. Additionally, the appeals filed by the NIA against the findings of the learned Sessions Judge are being considered in separate appeals, which have not yet been taken up. “There is also the likelihood of delay, as the prime accused has surrendered, and the learned Sessions Judge may have to take up the trial and dispose of it in accordance with the law and some of the original records may be required for that purpose. In view of these facts and circumstances, we are of the considered opinion that the sentence imposed on the applicant can be suspended pending the consideration of the appeal.” The court said The court, however, imposed strict conditions for Nasar’s bail. He is not supposed to provide a bond of Rs 1 lakh with two sureties, refrain from leaving the country without the court’s permission, avoid interfering with the trial or witnesses, and not commit similar offences while on bail The gruesome incident dates back to July 4, 2010, when Joseph, a professor at Newman College, Thodupuzha, was returning from Sunday mass with his family, members of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI) attacked him, allegedly in retaliation for a question paper he set, which contained a passage that they claimed insulted Prophet Mohammed was derogatory. His right hand was chopped off in this attack. Nasar was accused of playing a critical role in the attack. Investigations revealed his involvement in recruiting gang members, assigning specific tasks, collecting funds, procuring communication devices, and maintaining communication links with key conspirators.

The Kerala High Court, on Thursday, granted bail to M K Nasar, one of the individuals convicted by the special NIA court last year in the case of chopping the hands of Professor T J Joseph in 2010.