The wife of Asghar Shaikh, one of the three Muslim passengers killed on the Jaipur–Mumbai Superfast Express on July 31, 2023, opposed the bail plea of dismissed RPF constable Chetan singh Chaudhary, arguing that his claim of being mentally unstable is untenable and if he were truly of unsound mind, he would not have handpicked passengers by checking their attire and confirming they were Muslims before shooting them.
Chaudhary is accused of killing Assistant Sub-Inspector Tikaram Meena, who belonged to a tribal community, and three Muslim passengers, Abdul Kader Bhanpurwala, Sadar Mohammed Hussain, and Asghar Abbas Shaikh, in what the prosecution describes as a cold-blooded, targeted attack.
Chaudhary has sought bail citing “delusion disorder,” but the prosecution and Shaikh’s wife opposed the plea, stating that crucial witnesses are still being examined and the charges include offences punishable with the death penalty.
They argued that his health-related claims “do not inspire confidence,” noting that his previous plea on similar grounds was rejected in December 2023.
While Chaudhary claims a four-month admission in a mental institute amounts to a change in circumstance, the prosecution pointed out that he has “nothing to show” to prove unsoundness of mind and is instead relying on “a Google search engine.”
So far, 16 witnesses have deposed, including an RPF head constable. The intervener’s reply stresses that this case falls under the “rarest of rare” category, as Chaudhary, tasked with securing passengers, allegedly targeted and killed them. Citing the chargesheet, it notes that he had searched bogeys specifically for Muslim passengers.
On Monday, the court also recorded the deposition of a Mira Road constable who saw Chaudhary walking on the tracks with a rifle after the chain was pulled.
The witness testified that Chaudhary threatened him, “Mere raaste se hat jao, nahi toh goli maar dunga” before being tracked, restrained and arrested. The court will hear the bail plea later this month.
Following the shooting, a video posted on social media showed Chaudhary holding a rifle and standing next to the blood-soaked body of a bearded Muslim man.
Chaudhary in the video is then heard saying, “They were being operated from Pakistan and our media is giving [them] coverage. They are all aware. But I am telling you, if you want to live and vote in Hindustan [India] – it is only [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi and [Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath] Yogi, these are the only two names.”
Witnesses to the incident have said that the former constable walked through four coaches of the train to select his victims and asked them for their names before killing them.
Chaudhary was booked under the Indian Penal Code for murder as well as under the Arms Act. Later, the police added charges of kidnapping and promoting enmity on grounds of religion. He was also dismissed from the Railway Protection Force.
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