Jaggi murder case: Supreme Court stays conviction, life sentence of ex-Chhattisgarh CM's son Amit Jogi

On May 31, 2007, a trial court held that the prosecution had successfully proved the charges against 28 accused.

New Delhi: In a big relief to Amit Jogi, the son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, the Supreme Court on Thursday stayed his conviction and life sentence in the 2003 murder case of NCP leader Ram Avtar Jaggi.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and Vijay Bishnoi questioned the validity of the High Court's order, passed without hearing the appellant accused.

"We stay the conviction and life sentence of the appellant (Amit Jogi)," the bench said, upon hearing the counsel for the appellant.

Jogi challenged his conviction by the High Court in its order on April 2 which reversed his 2007 acquittal and sentenced him to life imprisonment in the case.

During the hearing, the bench questioned the passing of the High Court judgment without hearing Jogi.

"What kind of judgment, conviction and sentence before hearing," the bench observed.

In the case, the trial court had in 2007 sentenced 28 accused persons to life imprisonment but acquitted Amit Jogi for lack of evidence. However, the High Court had set aside the judgment and held him guilty, directing him to surrender within the stipulated time of three weeks.

The High Court had overturned Jogi's acquittal and convicted him on an appeal moved by the CBI.

As per the prosecution case, the NCP leader, Jaggi was shot in 2003, while travelling in his car.