2003 Jaggi Murder Case: Supreme Court Grants Bail To Convict Yahya Dhebar, Suspends Life Sentence

The bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and K Vinod Chandran ordered Dhebar’s release on bail, subject to payment of fine and compliance with conditions to be imposed by the trial court.

"The sentence of imprisonment imposed upon the applicant, Yahya Dhebar, that stood confirmed by the High Court, shall stand suspended on payment of the fine amounts. The applicant shall be released on bail on such appropriate terms and conditions as may be fixed by the trial Court," the bench ordered.

The Court noted that similarly placed co-convicts in the case had already been granted suspension of sentence and released on bail, making it inappropriate to keep Dhebar incarcerated while others had secured relief.

“We do not think it would be proper that the applicant, Yahya Dhebar, should continue to remain in prison, when other similarly situated co-convicts have been granted the relief of suspension of sentence and consequential bail,” the Bench observed, while directing that the sentence of imprisonment, as confirmed by the High Court, shall remain suspended.

The Court also took into account the complex procedural posture of the case. It noted that in a connected matter, an appeal filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the acquittal of one of the accused had been allowed by a three-judge Bench, with the matter remitted to the High Court for fresh consideration on merits.

Additionally, revision petitions filed by the de facto complainant are currently pending before the High Court. In view of these parallel proceedings, the Supreme Court deemed it inappropriate to take up the appeals filed by the convict-appellants at this stage.

Instead, the Bench adjourned the matter sine die, granting liberty to the parties to seek re-listing after the High Court decides the pending matters. It also requested the High Court to expedite the proceedings as far as possible.

Dhebar has been in custody since April 30, 2024. He was originally convicted by a Special Court in Chhattisgarh on May 31, 2007, under Sections 302 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code, and sentenced to life imprisonment. His conviction and sentence were upheld by the High Court in 2024, following which he approached the apex court.

The case stems from the high-profile assassination of Ram Avatar Jaggi, a senior NCP leader, who was shot dead in Raipur on June 4, 2003, during the tenure of then Chief Minister Ajit Jogi. The murder, which took place during the State Assembly elections, triggered widespread political and public outrage.

Given the gravity and sensitivity of the case, the investigation was handed over to the CBI. A total of 31 individuals were implicated, including key witnesses. While most of the accused were convicted by the trial court, the verdict was challenged before the High Court by multiple parties.

In April 2024, the Chhattisgarh High Court upheld the conviction and life sentences of 28 accused persons, reaffirming the findings of the trial court.