The date, December 24, 2022, is etched in the memory of the people of Korba, Chhattisgarh. A young woman was brutally murdered. Sahban Khan, a 30-year-old bus conductor from Ahmedabad, driven by suspicion of infidelity, raped his 20-year-old girlfriend and then stabbed her 51 times in the chest with a screwdriver. The District Court has now sentenced the guilty party to life imprisonment.
Sahban Khan arrived in Jaipur from Ahmedabad. He worked as a conductor for the Chishti Bus Service, residing in Jaipur on rent. This bus route ran from Jaipur to Korba. During this time, he met a young woman studying in the Madanpur area who frequently traveled by bus. Their friendship blossomed into love, and Sahban even contemplated marriage. However, the situation changed when the woman began communicating with another man. Enraged, Sahban attempted to stop her multiple times, even threatening her mother over the phone, warning her that he would take both of their lives if the daughter did not cease the contact.
Driven by suspicion, Sahban plotted the murder. On December 24, 2022, he flew from Ahmedabad to Raipur and then traveled to Korba. After staying at Hotel Salim, he went to his girlfriend’s house, taking advantage of the opportunity. A heated argument ensued, and in a fit of rage, Sahban raped the woman and then stabbed her 51 times in the chest with a screwdriver. No one was present in the house during the incident. The woman died on the spot.
Her brother, upon returning home, found his sister covered in blood and informed the police. Investigations revealed blood-stained shoes, a shirt, earphones, and a condom packet at the scene. Due to the sensitive nature of the case, the police enlisted the help of the cyber cell. After nearly a month and a half of investigation, the accused was apprehended in Gujarat and brought to Korba. During questioning, Sahban confessed to his crime.
The Special Judge of the District Court, Jaideep Garg, found Sahban Khan guilty. The court sentenced the accused to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of 75,000 rupees. It was also ordered that he would have to serve an additional 18 months in jail if he failed to pay the fine.