Judge who awarded 23 death sentences says he fears mafia more than death
A UP judge hands down his 23rd death sentence in a dowry murder, and speaks out against mafia influence and threats to judicial independence.
A Muzaffarnagar judge has sentenced a man to death for the murder of his wife, marking the 23rd capital punishment he has awarded in recent months. Additional District and Sessions Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar convicted Mohd. Nadeem for killing Shahzadi by pouring kerosene on her and setting her ablaze in July 2018.
The court described the crime as "extremely brutal and barbaric" and placed it in the "rarest of rare" category. Although several prosecution witnesses, including the victim's parents, turned hostile and denied allegations of dowry demands, the judge relied on Shahzadi's dying declaration to establish Nadeem's guilt.
In an unusual addendum to the conviction order, Judge Diwakar expressed deep concern over what he called the influence of mafia and gangsters on the judicial system in western Uttar Pradesh. He claimed cases were being delayed or withdrawn under pressure and stressed that judges must remain fearless in their duties.
"I am deeply hurt and saddened by certain recent developments," he wrote, adding that he was compelled to share his personal views. He said he knew why certain case files were withdrawn from his court but chose not to disclose the reasons, citing the "dignity of the office."
The judge further alleged that a gangster had sent him a message warning that pursuing the issue would lead to his transfer out of the district. Recalling his parents' teaching to fear only god, he said yielding to such pressure would erode public confidence in the judiciary.
"I would rather die than be called a coward judge," he stated, adding that he would resign if he could no longer follow his principles.
Judge Diwakar also referenced past threats, including those he and his family received after he allowed a survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises in Varanasi in 2022. He claimed his security cover was reduced despite the threats. He cited attacks on judicial officers, including the killings of a High Court judge in 1982, a Chief Judicial Magistrate in 2001, and a District Judge in 2021, to illustrate the risks faced by those handling serious criminal cases.