NIA court convicts 28 in Chandan Gupta murder case; victim shot during Tiranga Yatra in Kasganj

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Lucknow has convicted 28 out of the 30 accused in the high-profile Chandan Gupta murder case. Chandan Gupta, also known as Abhishek Gupta, was shot during the Tiranga Yatra organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) as part of the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2018, in Kasganj district.

The case gained significant attention after Chandan's death fueled widespread riots in the region, escalating communal tensions. The NIA court acquitted two individuals, Nasiruddin and Asim Qureshi, due to insufficient evidence.

On the day of the incident, Chandan and his brother Vivek participated in the Tiranga Yatra. When the procession reached the Government Girls Inter College gate, a group of individuals, including Salim, Wasim, and Naseem, allegedly blocked the road, halting the procession. Tensions rose when Chandan objected, leading to stone-pelting. Salim, one of the main accused, shot Chandan, gravely injuring him. Despite being rushed to the Kasganj police station and later to the district hospital, Chandan was declared dead.

Chandan's murder sparked riots in Kasganj for three days, leading to severe communal unrest. His father, Sushil Gupta, filed a murder complaint, prompting legal action. In 2019, the Kasganj Sessions Court framed charges against 23 individuals, and later, an additional seven were also charged. The accused faced various charges, including rioting, attempted murder, and insulting the national flag, as well as violations under the Arms Act for carrying firearms.

The trial was moved to a Lucknow court after the initial proceedings in Kasganj. On Thursday, after the verdict, Chandan’s parents expressed faith in the judicial process but voiced frustration with unmet promises made by political leaders. Sushil Gupta pointed out that BJP leaders had failed to deliver on promises such as the construction of a memorial square for Chandan and providing a government job to a family member.

Out of the 28 convicted individuals, 26 appeared in court, while Munajir Rafi joined via video conferencing from jail. An arrest warrant was issued for Salim, who was absent from the proceedings. The convicted individuals were taken into judicial custody and sent to jail. Several of them, including Salim, Wasim, Naseem, Mohsin, Rahat, Bablu, and Salman, were also convicted under the Arms Act for carrying weapons during the incident.

The prosecution presented 18 witnesses, while the defense called 23 witnesses during the trial.