Nine Years Later: CBI Court Set to Sentence Convicted in Siwan Journalist Rajdev Ranjan Murder Case

September 10, 2025 – India – 

In a major development in a long-drawn case, the special CBI court in Siwan is scheduled to pronounce sentences today, September 10, 2025, against three individuals convicted for the 2016 murder of veteran journalist Rajdev Ranjan. The verdict follows the court’s August 30 ruling that found Vijay Kumar Gupta, Sonu Kumar Gupta, and Rohit Kumar Soni guilty of the crime, while three others—Laddan Mian (Azharuddin Baig), Rajesh Kumar, and Rishu Kumar Jaiswal—were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

Ranjan, the Siwan bureau chief of the Hindi daily Hindustan, was fatally shot at close range on May 13, 2016, while returning from a hospital. His killing—widely seen as retaliation for his investigative journalism covering local political influence—prompted widespread outrage and cast a spotlight on threats to press freedom in India.

After years of procedural delays and intensive legal proceedings, the case was transferred from the Special Court for MP/MLA cases in Patna to the CBI court in Muzaffarpur to enable a more neutral and thorough process. In its prosecution, the CBI presented 69 witnesses and 111 pieces of evidence, conducting 183 interrogation sessions during the trial.

For Ranjan’s family, particularly his wife Asha Ranjan, the sentencing day carries immense significance. She has urged that the verdict carry a weighty punishment—one that emphatically communicates that individuals cannot evade justice regardless of their power or influence.

The sentencing marks a crucial moment for struggling media personnel and civil society alike. After nearly a decade of legal maneuvering, the outcome could set a precedent for accountability in crimes against journalists—sending a message that such attacks will not go unchecked.

Reference – 

CBI Court to Pronounce Sentence Today in Siwan Journalist Rajdev Ranjan Murder Case