New Delhi:
A man who was believed to have been murdered 11 years ago may be alive and well.
In 2000, Bhagwan Das was murdered in Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh. Four people were convicted for his death and sentenced to life. One of the four men in prison died. The three others, who have spent 11 years in prison, have challenged their conviction in the Supreme Court - they claim their alleged victim is still alive and continues to live in a village in Jhansi.
The Uttar Pradesh government disagrees and says that while it's correct that there is a Bhagwan Das alive in Jhansi, he is not the man who was killed. In fact, the murder victim had a step-brother with the same name, the UP government told the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court today ordered a judicial inquiry to determine if this is a case of mistaken identity. "The person who is said to be dead is in flesh and blood now. Somebody has to enquire into this," the judges said.
The inquiry will be conducted by a local judge in Jhansi - he has been given three months to report back to the Supreme Court.