By Admin 
In Bihar’s famous journalist Rajdev Ranjan murder case, a special CBI court gave a big verdict on Wednesday (September 10). The court has sentenced three convicts to life imprisonment. This decision is being considered as an important step towards protecting journalism and democracy.
Additional District Judge Namita Singh, who was hearing the case, sentenced the convicts Rohit Kumar Soni, Vijay Kumar Gupta and Sonu Kumar Gupta to life imprisonment. Along with this, a fine of Rs 1.5 lakh was also imposed on all three. The court said that the murder was part of a well-planned conspiracy, which attacked independent journalism.
Rajdev Ranjan was shot dead in 2016
Significantly, daily Hindustan journalist Rajdev Ranjan was shot dead in a fruit market in Siwan on May 13, 2016. There was anger in the entire state due to this incident. Ranjan’s wife had alleged at that time that Mohammad Shahabuddin, a strong leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and former MP of Siwan, was behind the murder.
Government handed over the case to CBI
Seeing the increasing pressure and seriousness of the case, the Bihar government handed over the investigation to the CBI. The CBI registered a case on September 15, 2016 and filed the first charge sheet against a minor accused on 21 December. The agency later filed a charge sheet in several serious sections including criminal conspiracy and murder against Shahabuddin, its close Mohammad Azharuddin Baig alias Ladan Mian and other accused.
However, Mohammad Shahabuddin died during the Kovid infection in 2021, after which the case against him was abolished. At the same time, the court acquitted Laddan Mian and two other accused in the absence of evidence. The case against the minor accused is still pending in the Juvenile Court.
The family of the deceased will get compensation
The CBI spokesperson informed that the court has also directed the Muzaffarpur District Legal Services Authority to provide compensation to the family of the deceased as per the provisions of the law.
Questions were raised about the safety of journalists not only in Bihar but all over the country regarding the murder of journalist Rajdev Ranjan. The decision of this case has come after about seven years. This decision of the court has given a great hope of justice to the victim’s family, although this pain will always remain for them.