Dehradun fake encounter: All convicts get lifer

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on each of the 17 convicts.

"The 18th convict was let off as he has already been in jail," reported CNN-IBN.

The court on Friday convicted 18 Uttarakhand policemen in the case.

Seven convicts in the case were found guilty of murder.

Ten others were found guilty of criminal conspiracy while one was convicted for entering false information into records.

"The Special Judge, CBI Cases, Tees Hazari Courts, New Delhi has today convicted 18 police officials namely Santosh Kumar Jaiswal, then Inspector; Gopal Dutt Bhatt; Rajesh Bhist; Neeraj Kumar; Nitin Chouhan; Chandra Mohan Singh Rawat all then five Sub – Inspectors and Constables Ajeet Singh; Satbir Singh; Sunil Saini; Chandra Pal; Saurab Nautiyal; Nagendra Rathi; Vikas Baluni; Sanjay Rawat; Mohan Singh Rana; Inder Bhan Singh; Manoj Kumar and Jaspal Singh Gosain, then Head operator (CCR) in a case relating to an alleged fake encounter of Shri Ranbir Singh resident of District Bagpat (Uttar Pradesh)," the CBI said in a release.

"A Case was registered by CBI on 30.7.2009 U/s 147, 148,149,302 & 506 of IPC on the request of Uttarakhand Govt and further  notification dtd 29.07.2009 issued by Government of India. CBI took up the investigation of the case which was earlier registered on 06.07.2009 by State Police vide crime no 101/09 of Police Station Raipur, Dehradun (Uttarakhand) and also CB-CID, Dehradun," it said.

"It was alleged that on 3.7.2009, Shri Ranbir Singh was apprehended by the Police officials of PS Dalanwala, Dehradun on the suspicion that he was present alongwith his associates with the intention to commit robbery. A scuffle took place between Shri G.D.Bhatt, SI and Shri Ranbir & other person during which the service pistol of said, SI came in the hand of other person. The said person ran away from the spot with the service pistol of Shri G.D.Bhatt, SI. Shri Ranbir was apprehended by the police of PS Dalanwala, Dehradun from Mohini Road crossing near Gurudwara, Dehradun and then he was subsequently killed in a fake encounter on the same day (03.07.2009) in Ladpur forest area ofDehradun," it said.

After thorough investigation, a chargesheet was filed on Dec 22, 2009 against 18 police officials.

The trial court had found 17 accused police officials guilty for offence punishable under section 120 B r/w section 364, 302 & other relevant sections of the IPC and one police official was found guilty under section 218 of the IPC. 

The case was adjourned to June 7, 2014 for submissions on the point of sentence.

Ranbir's father Ravinder Pal told media that he was happy and the guilty should be hanged.

Most of the cops are languishing in jail since their arrest and the handling of the case by the CBI.