Verdict Expected in 2018 Killing of Apple Executive Vivek Tiwari in Lucknow

District and Sessions Court to pronounce judgment nearly eight years after police constables were charged with murder in Lucknow.

A judicial verdict is expected tomorrow in the high-profile 2018 killing of Apple executive Vivek Tiwari, nearly eight years after the incident drew national scrutiny regarding police accountability and the use of force. 

District and Sessions Judge Malkhan Singh will likely pronounce the judgment on September 17, according to advocate Pranshu Agarwal, who represents the victim’s wife, Kalpana Tiwari. 

Tiwari, a 38-year-old resident of New Hyderabad Colony, was driving home in his SUV on September 30, 2018, after attending a party. At approximately 1.30 am, near the Makdoompur police outpost in Gomti Nagar Extension, two motorcycle-borne patrol constables identified as Prashant Chaudhary and Sandeep Kumar signalled him to stop. 

According to police allegations, when Tiwari did not stop immediately, the constables gave chase. Constable Chaudhary allegedly opened fire, striking Tiwari with a bullet. Tiwari was subsequently pronounced dead at a hospital. His colleague, Sana Khan (also referred to in court records as Sana Siddiqui), was travelling in the vehicle with him and served as a key eyewitness to the shooting. 

The case, registered at Gomti Nagar police station under Sections 302 and 323 of the Indian Penal Code, triggered widespread public outrage after it was revealed that serving law enforcement officers had fatally shot a corporate executive in the state capital. The investigation was initially handled by Lucknow Police before being monitored closely by the state government. 

Both accused constables were arrested and booked for murder and causing hurt. While Prashant Chaudhary faces trial in the district judge’s court, co-accused Sandeep Kumar is being tried separately. 

Over a five-year period, the prosecution examined eight witnesses to construct its case. Key depositions included eyewitness Sana Siddiqui on April 4, 2019, Kalpana Tiwari on November 2, 2019, and head constable Rajesh Kumar on November 28, 2019. Medical professionals Jitendra K Srivastava and Ram Prakash Dwivedi testified regarding the medical and post-mortem examinations in January 2020, followed by statements from the then city magistrate Salil K Patel, sub-inspector Kushal Kumar Tiwari, and investigating officer assistant commissioner of police Vivek Pandey. 

“We have been waiting for last eight years to get justice. Finally, the day has come for which we have been waiting,” said Vishnu Shukla, brother of Kalpana Tiwari, who currently works as a public relations officer with the Lucknow Municipal Corporation