Jamshedpur, Dec. 12: The court of additional district and sessions judge R.P. Ravi today convicted the three accused of conspiracy and murder of cable operator Mohan Singh.

The cable operator was murdered on March 19, 2004, at the residence of a former chief judicial magistrate and family friend Amrendra Pratap Singh in Mango.

According to defence advocate Udit Sarkar, the court found the three accused ? Mohammad Kalim, Sheikh Pappu alias Bigua and Mohammed Shamsher ? guilty of conspiracy and murder of the cable operator by forcefully entering into the residence of the former chief judicial magistrate. The accused were also found guilty under Section 27 of the Arms Act. Sentence will be pronounced on on December 14.

The defence advocate, however, said the allegation of theft could not be proved against the two convicts ? Kalim and Bigua. Only Shamsher was found guilty of theft and murder.

?We are yet to get the certified copy of the judgment but based on the proceedings of the trial, I can say that these three people were convicted only because on the day of murder two witnesses of the case ? Sita Singh, wife of Amrendra Pratap Singh and her servant Kanhaiya Mandal ? had seen them entering the house just before the murder. Moreover, these two witnesses had even identified them during the TI parade,? said Sarkar. ?Neither of the two witnesses had seen the actual murderer. I expect that these three will be acquitted by the high court,? added Sarkar.

The court acquitted the remaining six accused of all the charges, including conspiracy and murder due to lack of evidence against them.

Those who were acquitted by the court include Halim Ahmad, Mohammad Sallaudin, Pervez Ahmad, Abdul Hamid alias Pappu Baba, Mohammed Mustaque and Munnawar. Another defence lawyer H.K. Choudhry said the court would pronounce the terms and conditions of imprisonment for the three.

Choudhry said once they get the certified copy of the judgment they will move the high court against the conviction of his clients.