16 Years After Brutal Murders, Court Sentences 10 to Life Imprisonment in Meerut Triple Murder Case
Meerut: In a landmark judgment, the Meerut Special Court sentenced ten individuals to life imprisonment for their involvement in the notorious Gudri Bazaar triple murder case that shook the city sixteen years ago. The prime accused, Haji Ijlal Qureshi, along with his accomplices, were convicted for the brutal murders of Sunil Dhaka, Sudhir Ujjwal, and Puneet Giri on May 23, 2008.
The judgment, delivered by Special Court Judge Pawan Kumar Shukla, also imposed a fine of Rs. 50,000 on each of the convicts. The courtroom witnessed a significant presence of lawyers and members of the public, reflecting the high-profile nature of the case that had captured the city’s attention for over a decade and a half.
The triple murder case began on the night of May 22, 2008, when Haji Ijlal Qureshi, driven by jealousy and anger, orchestrated the gruesome murders. Ijlal, who was infatuated with Sheeba Sirohi, could not tolerate her interactions with Sunil Dhaka, who had started meeting Sheeba along with his friends Puneet and Sudhir. Enraged, Ijlal conspired with Sheeba and others to eliminate them.
On that fateful night, Ijlal lured the three victims to his house in Gudri Bazaar. What followed was a scene of unimaginable horror. The three friends were shot, their throats were slit, and their eyes gouged out. Their bodies were then dumped near the Hindon River at the Bagpat-Meerut border, where they were discovered the next day.
The case saw extensive investigation and numerous court proceedings over the years. The police filed a chargesheet against fourteen individuals, of whom two died during the trial, one was acquitted as a juvenile, and another’s case remains pending. The remaining ten were found guilty based on testimonies from 33 witnesses and substantial forensic evidence.
The primary convicts include:
- Ijlal Qureshi, the mastermind
- Sheeba Sirohi, his girlfriend who instigated the murders
- Maharaj, Devendra Ahuja (alias Munnu Driver), Afzal, Waseem, Rizwan, Badruddin, Izhar, and Abdul Rahman (alias Kallu)**, all of whom were complicit in the crime.
On August 5, 2024, Judge Pawan Kumar Shukla pronounced the sentence, bringing a long-awaited sense of justice to the victims’ families. “The court has ensured that the perpetrators of this heinous crime face the full extent of the law,” said the judge, emphasizing the severity of the punishment to deter future crimes of this nature.
The courtroom was filled with a palpable sense of relief and justice as the families of Sunil Dhaka, Sudhir Ujjwal, and Puneet Giri finally saw their tormentors punished. “Although nothing can bring back our loved ones, today’s verdict gives us some solace,” said a family member of one of the victims.
The case had long been a topic of intense discussion in Meerut, with many remembering the brutal nature of the crime. The verdict was met with widespread approval, with community leaders and residents expressing their satisfaction. “This verdict reaffirms our faith in the judiciary,” said a local resident.
As the city of Meerut moves forward, the families of Sunil Dhaka, Sudhir Ujjwal, and Puneet Giri can take some comfort in knowing that justice, though delayed, has been served.
