The Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday admitted an appeal filed by Punjab seeking enhancement of punishment to former Akali leader Ranjit Singh Rana, principal accused in murder of assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Ravinderpal Singh, who was trying to protect his daughter’s honour.
The high court on Tuesday admitted the appeal for hearing while ordering that it be heard as per the turn of the case. As of now, the court has admitted appeal in respect of Rana only.
The state government while seeking enhancement of sentence had argued that the social abhorrent nature of the crime ought not to be ignored in the present case. “If this is not revolting or dastardly, then it is beyond comprehension as to whatever act can be so described,” the government had submitted.
Besides, Rana four others had also got rigorous life imprisonment in the case. They include Dharamjit Singh, Sandeep Rampal, Gurbir Singh and Vikram Ohri.
On December 5, 2012, Rana and others had shot police officer Ravinderpal Singh when he confronted them for harassing his daughter.
The government had argued that case fell in the rarest of rare category and ends of justice would be met if the death penalty was given to all the accused.
{{/usCountry}}The government had argued that case fell in the rarest of rare category and ends of justice would be met if the death penalty was given to all the accused.
{{/usCountry}}“This is a case of broad day light murder of a police official in the heart of city with firearms and the entire incident continued for about 30 minutes with no one daring to come to the rescue of the cop,” the state had argued while seeking death sentence for Rana and four other accused.