On Tuesday, a local court in Buxar, Bihar, India, sentenced Dwarika Pandey, a teacher, to life imprisonment for the murder of Mahesh Kumar, which occurred on March 26, 2024, during the Holi festival. In addition to the life sentence, Judge Manish Kumar Shukla imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh (approximately $1,200 USD), with the stipulation that failure to pay the fine would result in an additional six months of imprisonment. The case was expedited through a speedy trial process, with the court relying on the testimonies of eight witnesses to establish Pandey's guilt. The investigation revealed that Pandey had taken between ₹1.5 to 2 lakh (approximately $1,800 to $2,400 USD) from Kumar under the pretense of securing him a job as a computer operator, ultimately leading to the murder to avoid returning the money. While Pandey's brother and two women were also charged, they were found not guilty by the investigation.