Court sentences employer to life imprisonment for killing Catholic driver

A man in Gujarat accused of brutally murdering his employee has been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment – a maximum of 14 years, under the Indian penal law – by the criminal court.

The brutal murder, which took the state by storm, was committed by Pravinbhai Madhavlal Patel, manager of Patel Transport Company, on December 24, 2004, when he torched his Catholic employee to death for daring to ask for advance pay so that he could celebrate Christmas.

Pronouncing Patel guilty of the gruesome murder of Robinson Joseph Swami, Judge M.P. Gamara of the Ahmedabad Sessions Court on October 19 announced his life sentence besides imposing a fine of Rs. 1,000 ($ 22).

According to Samson Christian, joint secretary of the All India Christian Council (AICC) who is closely monitoring the case, Swami had approached Patel on Christmas Eve of 2004 for Rs. 500 ($ 11), the amount that was due to him, plus an advance of Rs. 700 ($ 16) to celebrate Christmas.

"Unbelievably, Patel got so furious that he told him, 'Today you will be killed,'" Christian said. "Patel brought some petrol in a container, poured it on Swami and lit a matchstick. Suddenly Swami caught fire and he started shouting for help."

Some labourers who were working in a nearby office heard Swami's cries and immediately rushed him to L.G. Hospital in Ahmedabad, Christian added.

The same day, murder charges were filed at the Vatva police station the same day (December 24) under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code, but police did not arrest Patel.

Rather, Patel's friend Amitbhai Joshi visited the hospital three times and threatened Swami that if he did not withdraw the complaint he would be given wrong medicines and killed, Christian recalled.

About a month later – January 23, 2005 – Swami wrote a letter of complaint, signed it and sent it to the Vatva police station, but the accused still remained at large.

On February 1, 2005, Swami wrote to the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner, but still no action was taken against the accused. On February 13, Swami succumbed to his wounds.

On February 21, the AICC wrote a letter to the Ahmedabad police commissioner and other authorities.

Patel was finally arrested on March 16, and the case was referred to the Ahmedabad Sessions Court.

"The government counsel, Yogesh Desai, presented 22 documentary proofs, statements of 15 witnesses and declarations of the late Swami and eyewitnesses before the court, which sentenced the accused to life imprisonment and the fine," Christian said. "The AICC strongly condemns the incident and demands the resignation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Gujarat for its failure to protect religious minorities."

Patel is expected to appeal the sentence.

Gujarat state, which has been ruled by the BJP for several years, is infamous for communal violence and religious intolerance.