Ludhiana Fast Track Court Rejects Death Penalty, Sentences Gurveer Singh to Life in High-Profile Case
LUDHIANA — In a significant judgment, the Ludhiana Fast Track Special Court has sentenced Gurveer Singh (alias Gavy), a resident of Malak village, to life imprisonment for the kidnapping, ransom demand, and murder of 15-year-old Anmolpreet Singh. Additional Sessions Judge Sandeep Singh Bajwa denied the death penalty, determining that the case did not fall under the “rarest of the rare” category despite the gravity of the crime.
A Family’s Nightmare Begins
The tragic incident dates back to June 30, 2019, when Anmolpreet Singh, son of farmer Hardeep Singh (known locally as Kali Panch), left his home in Malak village around 6:30 PM to play but never returned. As darkness fell and anxiety gripped the family, the nightmare intensified when a chilling message arrived on the mobile phone of Anmolpreet’s friend Harjot Singh.
“Tell Kali Member that his son is with us. If you don’t pay Rs. 20 lakh by 10 AM tomorrow, we will kill the boy. If you inform the police, he will be killed immediately,” read the WhatsApp message sent from a foreign business number. The ransom demand sent shockwaves through the village and set in motion a police investigation that would span years.
Swift Police Action
On July 1, 2019, police registered FIR number 124 at Sadar Jagraon Police Station under Section 364-A of the Indian Penal Code (kidnapping for ransom). As the investigation progressed, additional charges related to murder and destruction of evidence were added to the case. The investigation was led by Inspector Kikkar Singh, then Station House Officer at the police station.
The turning point came quickly. Based on continuous investigative leads, police arrested Gurveer Singh on July 3, 2019, just two days after the boy’s disappearance. Officers recovered a white Zen car—the same vehicle mentioned by eyewitnesses—along with crucial items including a pair of slippers, empty Limca bottles, and an Oppo mobile phone.
Eyewitness Testimony Points to Accused
During trial, crucial “last seen” evidence proved decisive. Baljinder Singh, who runs a café in Malak village, testified that on the day of the incident, the accused brought Anmolpreet to his café. He later saw Gurveer Singh take the boy away in the white Zen car toward Jagraon.
Two additional witnesses corroborated this account. Sukhwinder Singh and Manjit Singh, the deceased’s maternal uncle, both testified in court that they had seen Anmolpreet with Gurveer Singh in the same vehicle. The court found this eyewitness testimony reliable and significant to establishing the accused’s guilt.
Body Discovered, Digital Evidence Seals Fate
Based on Gurveer Singh’s confession during police interrogation, authorities were led to the Akhaara Grid canal bridge. There, the second slipper and Anmolpreet’s body were recovered from bushes near the canal. Family members identified the slippers as belonging to their son, providing heart-breaking confirmation.
The most decisive evidence, however, came from the Forensic Science Laboratory and Cyber Cell reports. These investigations conclusively proved that the WhatsApp ransom message demanding Rs. 20 lakh had been sent from the mobile phone belonging to Gurveer Singh. This digital evidence provided the crucial link that connected the accused directly to the crime.
Court’s Verdict and Sentencing
The prosecution presented seventeen witnesses during the trial, with the court finding their testimonies reliable and credible. Weighing all evidence presented, Judge Sandeep Singh Bajwa found Gurveer Singh guilty of kidnapping, demanding ransom, and murdering the minor.
However, the court declined to impose capital punishment. In his judgment, the judge noted that while the case was serious, it was based entirely on circumstantial evidence. Considering the accused’s age, family background, and potential for reform, the death penalty would not be justified under law. Life imprisonment was deemed the appropriate and proportionate punishment.
Financial Penalties and Compensation
Beyond the life sentence, the court imposed a fine of Rs. 4.05 lakh on the accused and ordered him to pay Rs. 3 lakh as compensation to the victim’s family. All sentences will run concurrently. Should the accused fail to pay the fine, he will be required to serve an additional prison term as punishment.
A Community Seeks Closure
This case had gripped Malak village and surrounding areas for years, representing one of the most heinous crimes in the region. The conviction and sentencing provide a measure of justice to the family of Anmolpreet Singh, though no verdict can undo the loss of a young life cut short in violence.
The case demonstrates the critical importance of digital forensics and cyber investigation in modern criminal proceedings, particularly in establishing direct links between accused perpetrators and their crimes in cases where physical evidence alone might prove insufficient.
Leave a Reply