Ex-serviceman gets life term for killing man over Rs 500 bank withdrawal dispute

A court in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat has sentenced an ex-serviceman to life imprisonment for killing a man during a dispute over the withdrawal of a measly amount of Rs 500 from a bank account.The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge-I Poonam Rajput also imposed a fine of Rs 44,000 on the convict, Pawan, bringing the curtain down on a murder case that began over six years ago.The incident took place on May 18, 2020, in Kirthal village of UP’s Baghpat district. The victim, Deepak, was the brother of Komal Chauhan, a local Bank Mitra (banking correspondent) who operated a public service centre in the village.According to the case details, Komal was preparing to close the centre in the afternoon when Pawan arrived and sought to withdraw Rs 500 from his account. Komal reportedly told him that the centre was closing and asked him to return later in the evening. Pawan allegedly insisted on making the withdrawal immediately, leading to an argument between the two.The dispute escalated when Pawan allegedly pulled out a firearm and fired at Deepak, who was present at the centre. Deepak sustained critical injuries and collapsed at the spot. Komal, meanwhile, managed to escape. Family members and local residents rushed Deepak to a hospital, but he died before treatment could be initiated.Police subsequently arrested Pawan and recovered the weapon reportedly used in the shooting. After completing the investigation, the police filed a chargesheet, following which the case proceeded to trial.During the trial, which continued for around six years and four months, seven witnesses, including the complainant, gave evidence before the court.The prosecution presented its case based on witness statements and other material collected during the investigation.After considering the evidence and hearing arguments from both sides, the court found Pawan guilty of murder. The court then sentenced him to life imprisonment and imposed the Rs 44,000 fine.With the verdict, the long-running trial has reached its conclusion at the trial-court level. The convict will remain in prison under the life sentence, while the case may proceed further if an appeal is filed before a higher court.- EndsInputs by ManudevPublished On: Sep 19, 2026 17:15 IST