The perfect prison murder: 15 years gone by, zero convictions

OP Singh used to be one of the most trusted aides of Chhota Rajan, until the don learnt that Singh was trying to poach his men. Infuriated, Rajan ordered his right-hand man, DK Rao, to kill Singh. Illustration/Ravi Jadhav

Nearly 15 years after gangster Omprakash Singh was killed in one of the boldest and most well-planned jail murders that the state has ever witnessed, the case has come to an end with not a single conviction.

Citing lack of evidence, a district and sessions court in Nashik on Thursday acquitted 12 accused, including underworld don Chhota Rajan's most trusted lieutenant, D K Rao. Among those acquitted are three prison department officials from Arthur Road and Nashik jails, as well as a jail doctor.

At the time, Rao and the other 12 henchmen were in Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai. They bribed prison officials to ensure they would be transferred to Nashik Jail, where Singh was lodged. According to the chargesheet, even as the killers travelled to Nashik Jail, Singh was happy that would meet his friends after so long. He told his wife he was skipping his court hearing in Mumbai so he could spend more time with them.

These 12 were the only surviving undertrials, after two were killed in police encounters, one died of natural causes, and two disappeared on getting bail.

Coup gone wrong
The victim, who was also known as O P Singh, was one of Chhota Rajan's henchmen. On November 24, 2002, he was brutally strangled to death in Nashik Jail by 13 of his fellow gang members.

On November 24, 2002, prison officials organised a volleyball match to keep other inmates busy. Meanwhile, the 13 killers took a clothesline from the yard and strangled Singh in broad daylight

According to the police, Singh used to look after most of the Rajan's land dealings and other financial matters. But, he began to pocket huge sums without the don's knowledge and was even plotting to start his own gang. His mistake was trying to instigate key gang member Balu Dokre against Rajan. This cost him dearly, as Dokre tipped off Rajan about Singh's disloyalty, after which Rajan ordered DK Rao to kill Singh in jail.

Witnesses drop out
"In total, there were around 40 witnesses, but the prosecution examined only 13 key witnesses. Few witnesses turned hostile, while few could not recall the incident," said Advocate Randhir Kale, representing DK Rao.

Even Singh's wife, who was star witness in the case, never turned up in court.