A CBI court has convicted Himachal Pradesh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zahur Zaidi and seven other police personnel in the custodial death case linked to the infamous Kotkhai rape and murder of 2017. The quantum of the sentence will be pronounced on January 27, 2025.
Zaidi, a 1994-batch IPS officer who was serving as IGP (South) at the time, headed the special investigation team (SIT) probing the gangrape and murder of a 16-year-old schoolgirl in Shimla’s Kotkhai.
Among the others convicted are Deputy Superintendent of Police Manoj Joshi, a former Station House Officer of Kotkhai, an Assistant Sub-Inspector, three Head Constables and a Constable.
29-year-old suspect had died in custody
The case pertains to the death of Suraj Singh (29), a suspect in the Kotkhai rape-murder case, who died in police custody on July 18, 2017. Another suspect, Rajender Singh alias Raju (32), was accused of killing Suraj by allegedly smashing his head on the jail floor.
The custodial death and mishandling of the case drew massive public outrage, leading to mob violence in Shimla and raising questions about police conduct. The CBI took over the case following the uproar and registered two separate FIRs — one for the rape and murder and another for the custodial death.
Gangrape murder case led to statewide protests
The incident began on July 4, 2017, when six suspects, including Raju and Suraj, allegedly abducted the victim while offering her a ride home in Raju’s pick-up truck.
The suspects, reportedly intoxicated, took her to an isolated spot, raped and strangled her. Her body was discovered in a nearby forest two days later.
The brutal nature of the crime and the custodial death led to statewide protests demanding justice. The CBI formed a special investigation team to probe both cases, leading to the conviction of the accused policemen.
