Thane court convicts Suresh Pradeep Jaiswal in 2017 salesperson murder case

THANE: The Sessions court in Thane has convicted and sentenced a man to life imprisonment for the murder of a salesperson in 2017.

The convict, Suresh Pradeep Jaiswal, was convicted by additional sessions Judge A.N. Sirsikar, who also imposed a fine of Rs. 1,000. Two other accused were previously convicted in the case and were also sentenced to life imprisonment.

The prosecution stated that the victim, Vikas Upadhyay, was murdered in the early hours of January 1, 2017, following an altercation between Upadhyay and one of the accused, Amit Indradev Gupta, over transportation.

The victim, a salesman at an electronics store, intended to take a cab to his residence in Kalyan and had inquired with the driver. Meanwhile, the person already seated in the vehicle objected and wished to travel to Mumbra. The accused initiated a confrontation, which was initially resolved.

However, while the victim was searching for a rickshaw, the accused stabbed him. Bystanders who were accompanying the victim attempted to rescue him from the assailants but were unsuccessful. When the victim was rushed to a private hospital, he was pronounced dead upon arrival. The accused were apprehended by the patrolling staff while attempting to flee the scene.

The court deemed the prosecution's evidence, including witness testimonies and medical reports, sufficient to establish the accused's culpability. This case experienced delays, with Jaiswal's trial separated from his co-accused after he absconded. In 2023, Gupta and Avanish Jaiswal were similarly convicted for their involvement in the murder by the same court.

After hearing both sides, Judge Sirsikar stated in his judgment, "The circumstances and witness testimonies conclusively establish that the accused acted with a common intention."

The prosecution successfully proved the case, and the accused were sentenced to life imprisonment along with the fine.