More than three decades after an alleged attack in a Bihar village, an 84-year-old man has been convicted in an attempted murder case, highlighting the extraordinary delays that often plague India’s criminal justice system.
The case dates back to 10 November 1992 in Raghavpur village of Vaishali district. According to court records, a dispute broke out when Deep Rai, along with his relatives and associates, allegedly began scattering broken glass on a pathway near the home of Adalat Rai and his wife, Ramshaki Devi. When the couple objected, the confrontation reportedly turned violent, leading to allegations of attempted murder.
Police filed the chargesheet on 13 March 1993, but the legal process moved at a glacial pace. Charges were formally framed only in June 1999, and the trial continued for years thereafter. By the time the case neared its conclusion, four of the accused had died.
During the trial, the prosecution examined ten witnesses. After evaluating the evidence and testimonies, the court of the Additional District and Sessions Judge convicted Deep Rai under Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code.
The verdict has drawn considerable attention online, largely because of the convict’s age. Photographs circulating on social media show Rai as a frail octogenarian who reportedly requires assistance to walk and carry out routine activities.
While the conviction has finally brought closure to a case that lingered in the courts for 33 years, the question of punishment remains pending. The court has fixed June 2 for a hearing on sentencing, when it will decide the quantum of punishment to be awarded to the 84-year-old convict.
