Delhi shootout: A chronology

Source: PTI

October 24, 2007 18:04 IST

Following is the chronology of events in the 1997 sensational fake encounter case at Connaught Place in New Delhi, in which ten policemen were on Wednesday awarded life term for killing two businessmen:

Mar 31, 1997: Two Haryana-based businessmen, Pradeep Goyal and Jagjit Singh, shot dead by Delhi Police's Crime Branch team led by the then ACP S S Rathi after being mistaken as gangsters. The third man, Tarun, accompanying the deceased in their car, survives the attack.
April 1, 1997: Delhi Police holds a press conference, claiming they have killed two Uttar Pradesh-based gangsters whereas the victims' families appear there to belie their stance that the slain persons were criminals. Probe handed over to CBI.

list .5in">June 13, 1997: CBI files chargesheet against the policemen involved in the shootout.

September 8, 1998: A Delhi court frames charges under section 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC against 10 policemen, including suspended ACP S S Rathi.

November 11, 1998: Trial begins in the case with recording of prosecution evidence.

October 8, 2007: Delhi court presided by Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Kumar reserves its verdict as final arguments conclude.

October 16, 2007: Court convicts suspended ACP Rathi and nine other policemen in the case.

October 24, 2007: Court awards life term to all ten policemen, rejecting CBI's plea for capital punishment to three convicts including Rathi.