Gurugram: PSO who gunned down judge's wife, son gets capital punishment

GURUGRAM: A Gurugram court on Friday awarded capital punishment to Mahipal, a personal security officer (PSO) of an additional sessions judge, who had in 2018 gunned down the latter's wife and son.
Mahipal, who had on the afternoon of October 13, 2018 shot at the duo on the road in front of the busy Arcadia market in South City 2, was convicted under IPC sections 302 (murder) and 201 (destruction of evidence) and Section 27 of the Arms Act on Thursday.
The PSO had driven additional sessions judge (ASJ) Krishan Kant’s wife Ritu (42) and son Dhruv (17) to Arcadia market. After an altercation over handing over car keys, Mahipal had shot at Ritu twice, in the chest and stomach, and at Dhruv thrice, once on the shoulder and twice in the head, with his service revolver. He then tried to put Dhruv’s body in the car but after two failed attempts, abandoned the boy and drove off.
Ritu succumbed to her injuries the same day while Dhruv died after 10 days at a private hospital.
Judge Krishan Kant is currently posted in Ambala.
The case was heard by additional sessions judge Sudhir Parmar. As part of evidence, police and prosecution presented CCTV footage from the crime spot, Ritu’s dying declaration, Mahipal’s phone calls to judge Krishan Kant in which he confessed, and forensic reports. Around 64 witnesses recorded their statements in the case. One of them was a judge from Bihar who had recorded a video showing the 38-year-old PSO dragging Dhruv’s body and later leaving the crime scene.
An SIT formed by Gurugram police had submitted its chargesheet before the court on December 26, 2018.
In its final report, police listed a total of 81 witnesses, including doctors from Paras Hospital, where the injured were initially taken, as well as Medanta Hospital, forensic experts and police personnel associated with the probe.
In January 9, 2019, charges were framed and trial began on February 1.