Prime accused in Phoolan Devi murder case ties knot

Jotirmay Thapliyal

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 20

Sher Singh Rana (40), the prime accused in the Phoolan Devi murder case, married Pratima of Madhya Pradesh at his ancestral home at Roorkie in Haridwar district today. 

The wedding ceremony, which was supervised by his mother Satyawati Singh, was attended by close members of the two families. 

Rana’s family resides at BT Ganj locality of Roorkie. His father Surendra Singh Rana passed away a long time ago and his two younger brothers are already married.

Sher Singh Rana unsuccessfully contested as an Independent from Jewar Assembly seat during the UP Assembly elections in 2012. 

Dacoit-turned-politician MP Phoolan Devi was shot dead outside her Delhi residence in July 2001. 

Sher Singh Rana, the prime accused, later dramatically surrendered at the Uttaranchal Press Club in Dehradun. 

He admitted to killing Phoolan Devi with an aim to seek revenge of 1981 Behmai killings of Uttar Pradesh in which 21 Rajput men were allegedly killed by Phoolan Devi gang. 

Rana was sent to Tihar jail in Delhi from where he escaped in 2004 with the help of his close aides. 

He subsequently fled to Afghanistan. 

Rana had then claimed to have brought back remains of medieval ruler Prithviraj Chauhan. 

He was arrested on his return to India and released on bail in 2017.