A driver along with his brother in-law has been awarded life term for robbing and killing his 87-year-old employer by a Delhi court, which said the "faith reposed by the master in the servant stands shattered."
Additional Sessions Judge Narinder Kumar sentenced Rajesh Chaudhary and Mahesh Chaudhary for offences under sections 302/34 (murder with common intention), 394(voluntarily causing hurt to commit robbery) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC.
"Herein, greed has eclipsed faithfulness and wisdom, and as a result, the faith reposed by the master and the other family members in the servant stands shattered," the judge said, while also imposing a fine of Rs 60,000 each on them.
The court, while holding them guilty, said that it stands established that on May 2, 2011, both convicts in pursuance of their criminal conspiracy, did commit murder of ex-defence ministry officer Om Prakash Sharma, while committing robbery at his house at East Patel Nagar here, when he was alone.
The third accused, who was also a servant in the house, was sent to juvenile justice board for trial after being declared juvenile by the court.
While convicting them, the court relied on circumstances, recovery of cash, stolen properties and weapon of offence from their possession.
"The circumstances established are consistent with the hypothesis of their guilt and totally inconsistent with their innocence," the court said.
According to the prosecution, a complaint was lodged by victim's daughter against Rajesh, who had been working as his driver for ten years, alleging that he had hatched a conspiracy to rob Sharma with the help of his brother in-law and other servant who is a juvenile.
Rajesh and Mahesh entered Sharma's house on May 2, 2011, when he was alone and in an attempt to rob him, they strangulated him with a rope due to which he died, it said.
Both of them broke open his almirahs and took away over Rs 2 lakh cash, jewellery and other valuables from the house.
A case was registered at Ranjit Nagar Police Station and the police tracked down the accused from their native place in Bihar where they had fled after the incident.
