Overview
- The court on Wednesday handed life terms and Rs 1 lakh fines each to Sanjib (Bapi) Pandit, Amit Pandit and Ziarul Mandal.
- The trio had been convicted on Monday, and Bapi Pandit, previously out on bail, was taken into custody after the verdict.
- Anupam Dutta, councillor for Ward 8 of Panihati, was shot at close range on March 13, 2022 on Agarpara Station Road and died at the scene.
- Police arrested alleged shooter Amit Pandit the same night, with investigators stating Bapi Pandit arranged a contract killing after an initial hire failed and Amit was later engaged following municipal elections.
- Widow Meenakshi Dutta welcomed the judgment, thanked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, reiterated the family had sought the death penalty and said they may fight the case in the High Court, while the convicts claimed they were framed.