HC upholds life term to ex-SAD councillor, 3 others

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday upheld life imprisonment to four convicts, including a former Akali councillor, in sensational April 2011 murder of Jalandhar hotelier Gurkirat Singh Sekhon, aka, Gikki.

The four convicts include former Akali councillor, Ram Simran Singh Makkar, nephew of former SAD Adampur MLA Sarbjit Singh Makkar; Amardeep Singh Sunny, an advocate; two localbusinessmen,JasdeepSingh and Amarpreet Singh Narula.

In August 2015, a Gurdaspur court had awarded rigorous life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 each under Sections 304 (Part-1) and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to all four accused. Besides, the court had awarded two-year RI and a fine of Rs 2,000 under Section 25 of the Arms Act and five-year rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000 under Section 27 of the Arms Act to Amardeep and Makkar, respectively. They had approached the high court in August 2015.

The IPC Section 304 corresponds to culpable homicide not amounting to murder while Section 34 stands for common intention to hurt. The detailed judgment is awaited.

The Punjab government and Gikki’s father, Rajbir Singh Sekhon too were in appeal seeking conviction under murder charges while four convicts had challenged the trial court order arguing that some material facts were ignored by the lower court. They had also argued that there was no common intention to kill the victim. Makkar is behind bars since his arrest in April 2011 and three others are out on bail.

“It is a victory for victim family. Court has upheld the lower court order,” father’s counsel senior advocate Vikram Chaudhary said.

Counsel for convicts, senior advocate Vinod Ghai maintained that appeals of father and state have been dismissed. “Our appeals too have been dismissed,” he added.

Jalandhar-based hotelier Gurkirat ‘Gikki’ was shot dead near Baba Rasoi dhaba in Model Town, Jalandhar, on the intervening night of April 20 and 21, 2011. Makkar had allegedly fired at Gikki in front of Rajbir Singh Sekhon after a scuffle. Gikki died on way to the hospital. Makkar and Gikki, were friends and studied in same school but were sparring due business rivalry. The trial was transferred from Jalandhar to the Gurdaspur sessions court in October 2011.