JAMMU, June 11: The Court of the 2nd Additional Sessions Judge, Jammu, presided by Judge Amit Sharma has ordered the framing of charges under Sections 103, 238, and 49 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against two accused, Pardeep Singh and Rajinder Singh, in connection with the murder of a 21-year-old youth, Sandeep Singh.
The case, registered under FIR 117/2024 at Police Station Pacca Danga, has drawn significant public attention due to its links with online gambling.
According to the charge sheet, Sandeep was reported missing on September 29, 2024, by his mother Naina Devi. Later, his father Sukhdev Singh alleged that Sandeep had been kidnapped and possibly murdered by Pardeep Singh and unknown accomplices.
The investigation revealed that Pardeep Singh had lost Rs 1.30 lakh while playing an online game called “Aviator.” To recover his losses, he had borrowed the amount from the victim, Sandeep Singh.
When Sandeep demanded repayment, Pardeep allegedly conspired with Rajinder Singh to eliminate him. On September 27, 2024, Pardeep Singh lured Sandeep Singh to Jammu under the pretext of repaying the borrowed amount. The two then traveled together towards Reasi and proceeded on foot to a secluded area near AC Morh, Talwara. There, Pardeep allegedly pushed Sandeep into the Chenab River.
The body was recovered days later, with a postmortem indicating death due to cardiopulmonary arrest following drowning. Investigators seized CCTV footage, recorded witness statements, and retrieved mobile and bank data corroborating the sequence of events.
The mobile forensic and FSL reports further reinforced the prosecution’s case. Rajinder Singh, the co-accused, was apprehended from Lal Chowk, Srinagar, on October 7, 2024. His mobile phone was seized and analyzed, revealing communications linked to the conspiracy.
During the hearing, Arvind Rathore, Assistant Public Prosecutor, strongly opposed the discharge application filed by the counsel for accused Rajinder Singh under Section 250 of the BNSS.
Rathore argued that key digital evidence, including mobile data and FSL reports, played a crucial role in establishing the conspiracy. He emphasized that the delay in the discharge ruling was due to the awaited forensic analysis, which has since been shared with the defense. CCTV footage, witness statements under Section 180 of the BNSS, and the recovery of key items like the deceased’s ATM card and mobile phone have all been detailed in the investigation.
The bank records and technical evidence further implicate both accused in a carefully orchestrated plan to eliminate the victim and erase all traces.
While ruling on the discharge application filed by Rajinder Singh’s counsel under Section 250 of the BNSS, the court held that a critical examination of the record indicates sufficient material to presume the involvement of both accused in a planned murder, motivated by financial distress linked to online gambling.
The court remarked that the addiction to online gambling by one of the accused directly led to the death of a youth in his prime, highlighting the grave social implications.
The court has scheduled the matter for formal framing of charges under Sections 103 (murder), 238 (criminal conspiracy), and 49 (common intention) of the BNS. Both accused remain in custody
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