In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court on Thursday revived the possibility of a fresh judicial look at the 2007 acquittal of Amit Aishwarya Jogi in the Ramavatar Jaggi murder case. The bench condoned the delay in the Central Bureau of Investigation’s request to appeal the acquittal, noting that the allegations were “grave” and deserved to be examined on merits. However, the Court dismissed similar attempts made by the State of Chhattisgarh and the victim’s family to challenge the acquittal.
Background
The case dates back to June 2003, when National Congress Party leader Ramavatar Jaggi was shot dead in Raipur. The respondent, Amit Jogi-son of then Chief Minister Ajit Jogi-was accused of conspiring in the murder. The trial court convicted several co-accused but acquitted Amit Jogi citing insufficient evidence. The State and the complainant’s family challenged the acquittal, but the High Court rejected their petitions, saying the State had no authority to appeal in a case investigated by the CBI.
Years later, the CBI also attempted to appeal but did so with a delay of nearly four years, which the High Court refused to condone.
Court’s Observations
The three-judge bench acknowledged that the situation involved subtle legal questions regarding which authority-State or Centre-could appeal an acquittal in cases where investigation was carried out by the CBI. The bench referred to the precedent in Lalu Prasad Yadav vs State of Bihar, which restricts the State’s ability to appeal when the investigation is conducted by a central agency.
“The State’s petition must fail as the law stands today,” the Court essentially reaffirmed, declining to reopen that issue in this case. It also held that the complainant’s right to appeal did not exist when the acquittal was delivered in 2007 because the relevant legal amendment came only in 2009.
However, the tone shifted when the Court addressed the CBI’s plea.
The bench observed, “In a matter involving serious allegations of political conspiracy and murder, the case should not be thrown out merely on technical delay.”
The judges emphasized that allowing the CBI’s appeal did not imply any comment on Amit Jogi’s innocence or guilt. It only ensures that the merits of the acquittal will now be reconsidered by the High Court.
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The Decision
The Supreme Court dismissed the petitions filed by the State of Chhattisgarh and by the victim’s son. It allowed the CBI’s appeal, condoned the delay of 1373 days, and directed the Chhattisgarh High Court to hear the CBI’s request for leave to appeal on merits. The Court also directed that Amit Jogi, the State, and the complainant must all be heard during that stage.
The matter now returns to the High Court for fresh consideration.
Case Title: State of Chhattisgarh vs. Amit Aishwarya Jogi
Citation: 2025 INSC 1285
Court: Supreme Court of India
Bench: Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sanjay Karol, Justice Sandeep Mehta
Decision Date: 06 November 2025
