NCC teacher who accidentally shot NCC cadet Parag Ingale gets 7 years in prison

Additional sessions judge P P Jadhav on Thursday ruled that Ghanekar is “convicted vide section 235 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) for the offence punishable under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code.” The court also ordered Ghanekar to pay a fine of Rs 5 lakhs, and in default of payment, he would suffer simple imprisonment for one year. Out of the fine recovered from the accused, an amount of Rs 3 lakhs was to be paid to the parents of the deceased Parag Ingale, the order stated.

On the morning of February 1, 2013, cadets from Loyola High School in Pashan had gone to the NCC Group headquarters on Senapati Bapat Road for firing practice. They were accompanied by their instructor Ghanekar, who was then 27 years old. After all the students from Parag’s group finished their rounds, the cadets took a lunch break.

The chargesheet filed by the Deccan Gymkhana police three months after the incident stated that during this break, out of the 600 bullets allotted to the group, some still remained unfired. Ghanekar then asked the cadets to fire a few more rounds.

The chargesheet against Ghanekar further said that he was a trained NCC officer, who had failed to abide by the firing practice guidelines and fired while standing behind the students. Just as Ghanekar fired his 0.22 calibre rifle, Parag who was lying flat on the ground, suddenly got up and took the bullet in his head. He was rushed to Command Hospital where he underwent surgery. Parag was in a coma there for about three years before breathing his last at around 2.30 pm on January 7, 2016.

Meanwhile, the trial went on for six years. As stated in the court order, evidence of the first witness in the case was recorded on August 3, 2017. While the deposition of the last witness was recorded on February 21, 2023.

In the judgment, the court stated that it was “very sad to mention here the NCC department deliberately did not secure the presence of inquiry officer P Saravanan for deposing in the court as a witness.”

“As submitted by APP Kavediya, some persons from the NCC department used to visit the court and keep watch on the proceedings, but the service of summons to witnesses namely P Saravanan was avoided for years together. Only after expressing displeasure from Dias and suggesting the prosecution take steps by approaching higher authorities, the witness appeared in the court. Unfortunately, the helpless parents of the deceased Parag Ingale were forced to wait for almost ten years to get justice. The mental sufferings of parents of Parage Ingale are beyond imaginations…,” the court stated.

Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Rajesh Kavediya said,” Prosecution examined 17 witnesses in this case. NCC had conducted an internal inquiry into this matter. But the senior army officer who conducted the inquiry delayed his appearance before the court. Hence the family of victim Parag Ingle had to wait such a long time to get justice. While convicting the accused, the court has even made remarks against NCC in the judgment.”

Advocate Sanjay Navgire, who appeared for the accused, had submitted to the court that the accused had lost job after the incident. “For the last 10 years, he has been engaged in teaching boys who are physically and mentally handicapped. He has not caused any harm to society and never intended to do so. His wife and two children are depending upon him. His family is totally disturbed. He is ready to pray for forgiveness to the helpless parents of victim Parag. Hence leniency be shown to him,” Navgire had told the court.

But advocate Kavediya had argued that on the day of the incident, the accused “was not authorised to conduct the firing. Just for his thrill and passion, he fired the bullet resulting in the death of Parag… Hence maximum punishment be inflicted upon the accused.”

Parag was survived by his parents. His father Devendra works with the Pune Municipal Corporation.

Meanwhile, speaking to The Indian Express, Parag’s mother Sadhana Ingale said she is happy the court of law has finally given her justice. But, she added, “I feel sad that my son is not with me. He will never come back.”

“Last ten years have been very difficult. There was a time when I thought I would never get justice. I was frustrated. But I am thankful to court and advocate Kavediya,” said Sadhana, a home maker.