Phoolan Devi’s sister Rukmani Devi (right) and Shikha Singh, the sister of Phoolan’s killer Sher Singh Rana -AP
Sher Singh Rana, who was held guilty by a Delhi court for committing the murder of bandit-turned-politician Phoolan Devi in 2001, was on Thursday awarded life imprisonment by a Delhi court, which also imposed a fine of `1 lakh on him.
On August 12, Rana had argued that he should be given the opportunity to work for the welfare of society as he was not a criminal and had not harassed anyone in the past 13 years. The prosecution had sought the death sentence, saying Rana murdered Phoolan Devi in a pre-planned manner. Rana had argued that he was not married and had to look after his mother.
The sessions court pronounced the sentence in a jam-packed court where family members and supporters of Rana were also present. Shikha Singh, the sister of Rana who was present in the court, broke into tears as soon as the judge pronounced the sentence.
The court imposed a fine of `50,000 on Sher Singh for the offence punishable under Section 307 of the IPC and `50,000 with the life term. The court has directed Rana that if he does not deposit the penalty, he will have to undergo six months’ imprisonment in each default.
The court had on August 8 convicted Rana while it acquitted 10 other co-accused in the sensational murder of Phoolan who was then a Lok Sabha member. Rana was held guilty of offences under Sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 34 (common intention) under the IPC in the case.