New Delhi : Thirteen years after bandit-turned-politician Phoolan Devi was killed outside her official MP’s residence here, a court on Thursday sentenced convict Sher Singh Rana to life for her murder, IANS reports.
Additional Sessions Judge Bharat Parashar awarded the life term to 35-year-old Rana, and also slapped a fine of Rs.1 lakh on him.
“However, keeping in view the overall facts and circumstances of the case, when the incident resulted not only in the murder of Phoolan Devi but grievous and serious injuries were also caused to constable Balender… so, I am of the considered opinion that the interest of justice will be suitably met if convict Sher Singh Rana is sentenced with rigorous imprisonment for life,” the judge said.
“Once again, I may mention that ‘R-R’ (rarest of rare) test also does not stand fully proved against the convict. I am thus of the considered opinion that awarding of death penalty would be completely disproportionate to the crime committed in the present case,” the court said.
The court on August 8 convicted Rana, who gunned down Phoolan Devi, once popularly known as ‘Bandit Queen’, to avenge the 1981 Behmai massacre in which she killed 22 people from the Thakur community.
In its verdict, the judge also observed that the prosecution failed to prove the motive of the crime.
