Supreme Court takes notice of Salman murder case:Asks Chhatarpur SP what was done in 2 years? MLA’s murder case treated as accident

Razia Ali, wife of Salman Khan, says she has been seeking justice since her husband was killed. She claims her pleas were ignored, and the MLA and his supporters are still roaming freely. “I filed a petition in the Supreme Court. I hope justice will now be served,” she said. Salman, who was the driver for Congress councilor and 2023 assembly candidate Vikram Singh Natiraja from Rajnagar, was crushed to death by vehicles just four hours before polling began. Allegations were made against then-BJP candidate and now Rajnagar MLA Arvind Patairiya and his associates. The case has resurfaced as the Supreme Court, while hearing Razia’s petition, has asked Chhatarpur SP Agam Jain to submit a status report by October 6. The court also questioned why the main accused have not yet been arrested, despite charges of murder (IPC 302) and attempt to murder (IPC 307) against MLA Patairiya. When Dainik Bhaskar investigated this case in depth, it was found that this serious murder case in police files has now been converted into culpable homicide not amounting to murder (IPC 304A), which is originally considered an accidental case and in which there is no arrest. Meanwhile, former Congress MLA Vikram Singh ‘Natiraja’, who was made an accused in the cross-FIR in this case, is out on bail. How did the murder charge change to culpable homicide not amounting to murder? Why did the police not arrest the main accused? And now, what will be the future of this case after the intervention of the Supreme Court? Read this complete ground report…. Salman’s wife said – The investigation committee did not even ask a question
Salman’s wife, Razia Ali, is a guest teacher at Shankargarh Primary School in Rajnagar. Speaking to Bhaskar, Razia said, ‘After my husband’s murder, a case was registered under Section 302. An investigation committee was also formed, but in the last 1 year and 10 months, that committee did not even ask me a single question. I kept applying to the police repeatedly, but I was never told what to do next?’ Khajuraho TI wouldn’t even talk properly, saying ‘No case of Salman is registered here, don’t come again’. Razia said that she contacted a lawyer in Chhatarpur who was a friend of her husband, but he refused to take the case, saying ‘he cannot afford to make enemies with VD Sharma and Arvind Pateria.’ Razia said – My life is in danger
Razia said – When no help was found at the local level, we knocked on the doors of the Supreme Court. My lawyer Varun Thakur told the court how the police did not take any action on my applications and have now also changed the sections. Razia alleged, ‘I am constantly being intimidated and threatened. After becoming an MLA, Patairiya served illegal house notices to those 60 people who were witnesses on our behalf. Now will they save their homes or testify for us? The accused is in power, he has protection from above. He can tamper with evidence and witnesses. My life is also in danger, I return home alone from school every day. Police said – Razia did not contact the police station at all
When Bhaskar spoke to Chhatarpur SP Agam Jain on this matter, he said, ‘The Supreme Court has sought a status report. Police Headquarters has appointed an Officer In-charge. Full information will be submitted before the court on October 6. The officers who were deployed in the district at the time of the incident conducted a full investigation. Even when I took charge, the entire matter was investigated. The police had formed an SIT to investigate this matter. After receiving notice from the Supreme Court, we had sent Khajuraho SDOP Manmohan Baghel to the Supreme Court. The entire case has been explained to the lawyer representing our side. As far as Razia’s allegations are concerned, the SDOP will respond to them. When Bhaskar asked SDOP Baghel, he said- Razia probably never found it appropriate to come to the police station and inquire about the investigation. She must have filed a petition in the Supreme Court due to lack of information. The matter of her 12-year-old nephew’s testimony never came to our knowledge. As far as the threat to life is concerned, our team keeps doing threat assessment and is ready to take action on receiving any input. Now know what all changed in the FIR Murder case converted into an accident case
Khajuraho SDOP Manmohan Baghel, who is investigating the case, stated, ‘Based on sufficient evidence available in the case, statements of eyewitnesses under sections 161 and 164, and the legal opinion of the DPO (Legal Advisor), Section 302 has been changed to 304A.’ ‘So far, the investigation suggests it is an accident case.’ Meanwhile, the main eyewitness to the incident, who was from the side of Congress candidate Natiraja and who himself sustained injuries, also described the incident as an accident in his statement. The entire investigation has been impartial. Names of accused removed
Bhaskar obtained some documents in which the names of some people were removed from the FIR. Regarding this, police sources say that the FIR contained the names of some people who were not present at the crime scene based on CCTV footage and other evidence. On the orders of then SP Amit Sanghi, the names of 3 accused (Sanjay Mishra, Mukesh Pandey, Dinesh Agnihotri) were removed from the FIR, as their presence was not found. Natiraja said – now justice will be served, MLA said – trust in the judiciary
This case has been politically charged from the very beginning. Congress is calling it a political murder committed under the patronage of power, while BJP is calling it a Congress conspiracy. When Bhaskar spoke to former MLA and Congress candidate Vikram Singh Natiraja in the 2023 elections regarding this matter, he said – By God’s grace, there is now hope for justice. The state government and Chhatarpur police tried their best to suppress the matter. The police are working as if they are BJP workers. We filed the FIR immediately after the incident, while they filed it two days later. We will benefit from this. I have full faith in the judiciary. Salman was like a real brother to me. Meanwhile, BJP MLA Arvind Pateria said – I have not received any notice from the Supreme Court. I have received information that the Honorable Court has sought a status report from the Police SP. The police will present their report. ​