For two years while he was alive, he eluded the police of five states. When he died, the police had to wait 20 days for his funeral. And now, the CBI's closure report on the encounter that led to his death has become a thorn in the police's side once again. The court has ordered a murder case against all the policemen involved in the notorious gangster Anandpal's encounter in Rajasthan.
Murder Case Against Seven Policemen
In both life and death, the notorious Anandpal continues to haunt the Rajasthan Police. Rejecting the CBI's closure report, the Jodhpur CBI Court has now ordered a murder case against the seven policemen who were involved in Anandpal's encounter and were once honored for it.
Who was Anandpal?
But the question remains, how did the CBI find the encounter to be legitimate in its investigation, only for the same investigation to be proven false in court? To understand this story, you need to know what arguments Anandpal's family presented in court that dismantled the entire CBI investigation. But before we delve into those details, let's learn who Anandpal was and how his encounter came under scrutiny.
Anandpal was killed on June 24, 2017
Anandpal Singh, a gangster from Nagaur district in Rajasthan, was notorious for his ruthless demeanor. His criminal record included over seven murders and multiple serious charges. Once captured, he managed to escape and was never caught again. Police forces from not just Rajasthan but also Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh pursued him for two years. Eventually, on June 24, 2017, Rajasthan Police's Special Operations Group (SOG) and Churu Police took him down in an encounter.
The Encounter Narrative from the Police
Police officials stated that during their chase, they gathered intel on Anandpal’s two brothers, Vicky alias Rupesh and Devender alias Gattu, arresting them. These leads pointed to a house in Malasar village, Churu district, where Anandpal was hiding on the rooftop. The police besieged the house and asked him to surrender, even informing him that his brother was in custody. But according to the police, Anandpal opened fire on them with an AK-47 from the rooftop. In return fire from the police, Anandpal was killed.
20-Day Protest with the Body
However, Anandpal’s family and supporters claimed the encounter was fake and refused to conduct his last rites until action was taken against the responsible policemen. For about 20 days, they protested with his body. Eventually, the then Rajasthan government handed the case over to the CBI. The CBI's investigation corroborated the police's account and filed a closure report in 2020, deeming the encounter justified.
Family Challenged the Closure Report
Anandpal’s family challenged this closure report. The trial continued for four years in the ACJM court, and after hearing both sides, the court rejected the closure report and ordered cases against the seven policemen under murder and other charges. The court found that the encounter was not genuine; instead, the police had captured Anandpal alive, shot him multiple times at close range, and killed him.
Source: aajtak
But now the question arises, what were those compelling arguments by the defense that tore apart the closure report? Let’s delve into them point by point.
Argument No. 1 - Glock Pistol Exposed the Lies
Police claimed Anandpal was firing from the rooftop with an AK-47, making it difficult for the police to reach the rooftop amidst the barrage. They alleged that they got to the stairs with Anandpal's brother, but Anandpal kept firing from above. Although they eventually returned fire, causing him to fall with his AK-47 on the stairs, police never reached the roof during the encounter. However, an investigation revealed that a statement from CO Vidya Prakash’s Glock pistol had also fired a bullet, and the casing was found on the roof. How did the casing end up there if the shot was fired from below? Forensic experts affirmed that a casing from a Glock pistol remains wherever the shot is fired. This contradiction exposed the police's lie about the shooting.
Argument No. 2 - Bullet Marks Indicated Close-Range Shooting
Anandpal’s body underwent two autopsies. The second post-mortem revealed tattooing marks near seven bullet wounds—marks that only appear from close-range gunfire. These marks contradicted the police's claim that they shot him from below while he was on the rooftop.
Argument No. 3 - Constable’s False Statement Revealed
CBI’s investigation included input from Constable Sohan Singh, who claimed to be at the top of the stairs during the encounter while Anandpal fired bursts from his AK-47. In response, he allegedly fired back and hit Anandpal. However, Sohan Singh was also shot, and nine months later, he changed his statement, saying the bullet that hit him had ricocheted off a wall. Nevertheless, the court found this practically impossible, further weakening the police and CBI’s case.
Argument No. 4 - Government Weapon Casings on the Roof
In addition to CO Vidya Prakash’s Glock pistol casings, other police weapon casings were found on the rooftop. Given that according to their story Anandpal was shot and fell on the stairs, the presence of these casings on the roof raised doubts about the police’s encounter narrative.
Argument No. 5 - Anandpal’s Brother Exposed the Encounter
Police had Anandpal’s brother Rupinderpal on-site and informed Anandpal through him, asking him to surrender. Despite surrendering, the police allegedly forced him to the ground and fired multiple close-range shots. Rupinderpal testified to this, raising significant questions about the police’s encounter theory.
Source: aajtak
Criminal Charges Against Policemen
These arguments dismantled the police’s encounter theory. The court ordered a case against seven policemen, including the then Churu SP Rahul Barath, then Kuchaman City CO Vidya Prakash, and then SOG CI Suryaveer Singh. They face charges under IPC sections 302 (murder), 324, 325, 326 (causing grievous hurt with dangerous weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly), and 147 and 148 (rioting).
Anandpal’s Wife Challenged the Report in Court
Anandpal’s wife, Rajkanwar, challenged the CBI’s closure report in court. Her testimony, along with those of Anandpal’s brother Manjit Kanwar and two doctors who conducted his post-mortem, raised significant doubts about the closure report. With the court's order, the trial against the accused policemen is set to proceed. However, considering the CBI’s validation of the encounter, one wonders what the outcome of this trial will be. Will Anandpal’s family alone represent the prosecution in court, and will the evidence be sufficient to convict the policemen?
Stronghold in Rajput Community
Despite being a known gangster with numerous serious charges, Anandpal was seen by some as a Robin Hood figure, especially among the Rajput youth. When he was killed on June 24, 2017, widespread protests erupted, significantly challenging the administration for 20 days.
Police Spent 9 Crore in Search for Gangster
Throughout his criminal career, Anandpal was captured only once before escaping and evading the police for years. Over two years, the police conducted raids at more than 300 locations with teams led by SP-level officers, spending millions in their hunt. Sources estimate that the police spent around INR 9 crore in pursuit of Anandpal before the encounter.
Politics and Alcohol Smuggling Led to Crime
Anandpal had a rivalry with another gangster, Raju Thehat. In 2014, Anandpal’s associates attacked Thehat in jail, leading to retaliatory attacks. On December 3, 2022, Thehat was murdered in Sikar, with blame falling on Anandpal. Despite his education—a law graduate and a B.Ed.—Anandpal chose a life of crime, using fluent English to craft a sophisticated image. He once aspired to be a teacher but was drawn into crime through politics and alcohol smuggling.
Mastering Community Dynamics Became Popular
Once he entered the criminal world, Anandpal gained popularity by leveraging caste dynamics, particularly among Rajputs, executing multiple murders, and instilling fear. He even used acid to destroy bodies, amplifying his terrifying reputation. At one time, his influence was formidable in Rajasthan. But now, his legacy is just a thing of the past.
