Lawrence Bishnoi acquitted, 3 sentenced to life in Sikar’s Sardar Rao murder case

After nearly eight years of trial, a special SC/ST court in Sikar on Wednesday pronounced its verdict in the high-profile murder case of former Jurathda sarpanch Sardar Rao, bringing legal closure to one of Shekhawati’s most closely watched criminal trials.

The court acquitted gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and co-accused Yatendra Pal, citing lack of conclusive evidence, while handing down life imprisonment to three accused found to have played a decisive role in the conspiracy and execution of the crime.

Who was convicted and what sentence was awarded

Special Judge Renuka Singh Hooda held Harvinder, Arun, and Hardewar Ram guilty of murder and criminal conspiracy, sentencing all three to life imprisonment. The court observed that their involvement in planning and facilitating the killing was clearly established through circumstantial evidence, witness testimonies, and call detail records.

Six other accused—Sunil, Mukesh, Bhanu Pratap, Narendra, Kuldeep, and Om Prakash—were convicted for aiding the main conspirators and were sentenced to ten years of rigorous imprisonment each.

One accused, Subhash Baral, alleged to be the principal conspirator, remains absconding. Proceedings against him have been kept pending, with the court directing police to continue efforts to secure his arrest.

Why Lawrence Bishnoi was acquitted

The prosecution had alleged that Lawrence Bishnoi maintained contact with Subhash Baral and helped arrange shooters for the killing. However, the court ruled that the evidence presented failed to establish a direct and reliable link between Bishnoi and the murder. Granting him the benefit of doubt, the court ordered his acquittal, along with that of Yatendra Pal.

A case that shook Shekhawati

Sardar Rao was shot dead in broad daylight on August 23, 2017, at a grocery shop in Palsana town. The brazen nature of the attack and alleged gang connections kept the case in public focus for years. Investigators linked the murder to local political rivalry ahead of anticipated panchayat by-elections, where Rao was seen as a strong contender.

According to the prosecution, the killing stemmed from electoral tensions following Rao’s defeat in the 2015 panchayat elections and fears of his political comeback.

Inside the trial

During the prolonged trial, the prosecution examined 76 witnesses, submitted 231 documents, and produced 25 material exhibits, including medical reports, forensic evidence, call records, and CCTV footage. The defence mounted an extensive challenge to the prosecution’s case, leading to partial acquittals.