The chairman of Balia district Board of Uttar Pradesh was today sentenced to life imprisonment by a local court in connection with a 17-year-old murder case of trade union leader Binod Singh.
The court of additional district judge (ADJ)-7 Nikesh Kumar Sinha awarded life imprisonment to Ramadhir Singh under section 302 IPC (punishment for murder) and three years additional jail term under section 27 of Arms Act (punishment for using arms).
Ramadhir Singh was pronounced guilty on April 9 and the court announced the punishment in his absence today.
Trade union leader Binod Singh was shot dead on way to Dhanbad from Katras township on July 15, 1998.
The victim's elder brother Doon Bahadur Singh had lodged an FIR holding Ramadhir Singh, his elder brother and former Jharkhand minister Bachha Singh, nephew Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Sherbahadur Singh and Anil Yadav accused for murder.
The court acquitted Bachha Singh from charges on April 9 last but held the four other accused guilty.
Three of the four accused -- Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Anil Yadav and Sher Bahadur Singh were declared absconders.
Ramadhir Singh had not appeared in the court on April 9. His advocated urged the court to hold up the decision as his client was admitted to AIMS, Delhi.
The court issued arrest warrant against Ramadhir Singh and directed the police to produce him on April 16. But when he did not appear, the court announced the sentence today in his absence.
While Ramadhir is chairman of Balia district Board, his wife Indu Singh is Mayor of Dhanbad municipal Corporation. His nephew Sanjiv Singh is the BJP MLA from Jharia constituency.
