Artist Hema Upadhyay murder case: Chintan and three others get life in jail

The Dindoshi Sessions Court on Tuesday delivered its verdict, sentencing all four accused individuals in the Hema Upadhyay-Haresh Bhambhani murder case to life imprisonment. Justice S Y Bhosle found Chintan Upadhyay guilty of hatching a criminal conspiracy with the other accused to murder Hema. He was charged under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Upadhyay received a life sentence, a fine of Rs 25,000, and, in default of payment, six months of simple imprisonment.

Vidyadhar Rajbhar, who is absconding (right) Chintan Upadhyay. Pics/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

The other accused, Vijay Rajbhar, Pradeep Rajbhar and Shivkumar Rajbhar, were found guilty of Hema and lawyer Bhambani's murder. They were sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of R5,000, with the provision that failure to pay the fine would result in three months of additional imprisonment. Additionally, the three accused were sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 3,000. Failure to pay the fine would result in an additional two months of imprisonment. These three accused also received three years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of R2,000, with an additional one month of simple imprisonment for non-payment.

Vijay Rajbhar, Shivkumar Rajbhar and Pradeep Rajbhar all three convicts

Chintan Upadhyay's bail bond was revoked, and he voluntarily surrendered before the court on October 5, 2023. Furthermore, Additional Session Judge S Y Bhosle noted in his order that accused Vijay Rajbhar and Pradeep Rajbhar had been in custody since their arrest on December 15, 2015, while Shivkumar Rajbhar had been in custody since his arrest on December 14. Chintan Upadhyay was in custody from December 22, 2015, until September 23, 2021.

In the event that the government decides to exercise its authority, these four accused individuals are entitled to the benefits provided by section 428 of the CrPC to set off against imprisonment. The additional judge further ordered the preservation of all seized articles, records, and proceedings related to this case until further notice or until the trial against the absconding accused, Vidhyadhar Rajbhar, is completed. The substantive sentences for the accused shall run concurrently.

Rs 25,000
Fine imposed on Chintan