Man sentenced to life for killing VHP activist’s brother

“The convict had killed the deceased by firing at him. He is not previously known to have committed any such crime. The convict belongs to the poor section of the society. That under the circumstances available on record,the case does not fall in the category of rarest of rare case,” the court said.

“I am of the opinion,therefor,that imprisonment for life with some fine would meet the ends of justice,” the court said while also imposing a fine of Rs 10,000 on the convict.

Deepak Sharma,brother of an erstwhile Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activist Robin Sharma,was shot dead at Dwarka in West Delhi in 2005.

During the trial,Robin had deposed that he was a member of VHP till 2003 and due to a “false accusation” that he had burnt a holy book in 2001,there were several attacks on him and his family members.

He said on March 2,2005,he saw two persons coming on a motorcycle towards his shop and later turning back. He said suspecting an imminent assault on him,he left the shop and went home after which his brother,who too was leaving for home on a motorcycle,was shot dead.

The court,however,convicted Shahin based on deposition of an independent eye witness,who saw him firing at Sharma while riding pillion on a motorcycle.

The eyewitness told the court that while he was waiting for an autorickshaw,he saw Deepak Sharma taking his motor bike out of the parking lot when two motorcycle-borne assailants came and pillion rider Shahin who was not wearing any helmet shot at the victim.

While the special cell of Delhi Police had arrested two persons for the crime,the court acquitted the other accused as only Shahin was identified by the witnesses.