The Additional District and Sessions Court, presided over by Judge Puneet Sehgal, has convicted three individuals in the robbery and murder of taxi driver Rakesh Gurjar and sentenced two to life imprisonment, while the third received three years.
According to police, on March 24, 2022, Rakesh Gurjar, a resident of Alwar, Rajasthan, was found shot in the head on Palasoli Road near Mau Lokri village. Rakesh, who drove an Eco car, had left with passengers the previous night and never returned.
Investigation revealed that the accused had rented Rakesh’s taxi by posing as passengers. They stopped the car in a secluded location, attempted to snatch the keys, and shot him before fleeing with his car and mobile phone. The vehicle was later recovered abandoned in Nuh area.
During the probe, Hitesh alias Honey was first arrested in a separate case and confessed to the murder. Based on his statement, Pankaj was arrested in Mumbai, and a country-made pistol (katta) used in the crime was recovered. Forensic analysis confirmed that the bullet that killed Rakesh matched the recovered weapon. Kuldeep, who supplied the weapons, was also arrested.
The prosecution presented 32 witnesses and forensic evidence during the trial. The court sentenced Pankaj and Hitesh alias Honey to life imprisonment for murder and robbery, and Kuldeep to three years for supplying weapons and destroying evidence. Additionally, Pankaj and Hitesh were ordered to pay Rs 1 lakh in compensation to Rakesh’s family.
