2015 Pratapgarh inspector killing: CBI court jails second convict for 10 years
Synopsis
A CBI court in Lucknow has sentenced the second convict in the 2015 Pratapgarh inspector killing to 10 years in jail — more than a decade after suspended SHO Anil Kumar died from a stray bullet near a hotel parking dispute. The verdict mirrors the sentence handed to co-accused Jishan Khan in May 2026, closing the trial phase of a case that needed High Court orders just to get a CBI probe off the ground.
Key Takeaways
A Special CBI Court in Lucknow sentenced Bocha alias Raju Soni to 10 years' imprisonment and a fine of ₹9,000 on 23 October 2026 .
The case relates to the culpable homicide of suspended UP Police inspector Anil Kumar , SHO Kotwali Pratapgarh, on 19 November 2015 .
Co-accused Jishan Khan was convicted earlier on 2 May 2026 after filing a written confession, and received an identical sentence.
The CBI registered the case on 29 June 2018 on orders from the Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench .
Inspector Kumar reportedly died from a stray bullet during a parking dispute near Hotel Vaishnavi, Pratapgarh ; he had been suspended days earlier over a lawyer's killing in his jurisdiction.
A Special CBI Court in Lucknow on Friday, 23 October 2026, sentenced Bocha alias Raju Soni to 10 years' imprisonment and a fine of ₹9,000 for the culpable homicide of suspended Uttar Pradesh Police inspector Anil Kumar, who died in Pratapgarh on 19 November 2015. The verdict closes the trial phase of a decade-long case that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over only after a High Court directive.
Background of the Case
Inspector Anil Kumar, who served as Station House Officer (SHO) of Police Station Kotwali, Pratapgarh, died after reportedly being struck by a stray bullet fired during an altercation between two groups over a parking dispute near the Model Shop of Hotel Vaishnavi, Pratapgarh. He had been suspended just days before his death, following the killing of a lawyer — who was contesting a district panchayat election — under his police station's jurisdiction.
How the CBI Entered the Picture
The Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench, ordered the CBI to take over the investigation, prompting the agency to register the case on 29 June 2018 — nearly three years after the incident. Following its probe, the CBI filed a charge sheet against two accused: Jishan Khan and Bocha alias Raju Soni. Charges were formally framed against both on 14 December 2022.
First Conviction and the Road to Friday's Verdict
During the trial, co-accused Jishan Khan filed a written confession on 4 April 2026, admitting to the charged offences. His case was separated from the main file, and he was convicted and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment with a fine of ₹9,000 on 2 May 2026. The second accused, Bocha alias Raju Soni, faced the full trial before the Special CBI Court, which delivered its sentence on Friday — matching the punishment handed to the first convict.
Significance of the Verdict
The case is notable for several reasons: it involved the death of a serving police officer under suspension, required High Court intervention to trigger a CBI investigation, and took more than eight years from the date of the incident to conclude at the trial-court level. Critics of criminal justice delays may note that the charges were framed nearly seven years after the killing. Both convicts now face identical sentences, though the legal process — including potential appeals — may continue.
Point of View
But the timeline is a damning data point: a 2015 killing, a 2018 CBI registration forced by the High Court, charges framed in 2022, and a final verdict in 2026. That is over a decade from crime to sentence in a case involving a uniformed officer's death — exactly the kind of delay that erodes public confidence in law enforcement accountability. The fact that the CBI required a judicial nudge to even enter the investigation raises questions about whether UP Police would have reached the same outcome on its own. Both convicts received identical sentences, but the slow pace of this case is itself a verdict on institutional capacity.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Anil Kumar and how did he die?
Anil Kumar was a suspended Station House Officer (SHO) at Police Station Kotwali in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh. He reportedly died on 19 November 2015 after being struck by a stray bullet during a fight between two groups over a parking dispute near Hotel Vaishnavi in Pratapgarh.
Why was Inspector Anil Kumar under suspension at the time of his death?
Inspector Anil Kumar had been suspended just days before his death following the killing of a lawyer, who was contesting a district panchayat election, under his police station's jurisdiction.
Why did the CBI take over this case?
The Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench, ordered the CBI to take over the investigation. The CBI registered the case on 29 June 2018, nearly three years after the incident.
What sentences have the two convicts received?
Both convicts received identical sentences of 10 years' imprisonment and a fine of ₹9,000. Jishan Khan was convicted on 2 May 2026 after filing a written confession, and Bocha alias Raju Soni was sentenced by the Special CBI Court on 23 October 2026 following a full trial.
What happens next in the case?
The trial-court phase is now concluded with both accused convicted. Either or both convicts may challenge the verdict in a higher court; no appeal filings have been reported yet.
