The sentence was passed by additional and district sessions judge Lakhbir Singh. Six others, including three policemen who were then Jagdev Talwandi's gunmen, have also been sentenced to life imprisonment in the same case.

The case dates back to December 12, 1996. According to the testimony of Darshan Singh, based on which an FIR was registered, around 8 pm that day in the village of Talwandi Rai under Raikot police station, the complainant witnessed a quarrel in which Ranjit Singh Talwandi intervened along with Jagdev Talwandi's bodyguards.

According to Darshan Singh's testimony, Jit Singh, a supporter of Ranjit Talwandi, snatched a weapon from one of the gunmen and killed a man named Chamkaur Singh from a rival political party. Ranjit Talwandi is stated to have told Jit Singh togo ahead and kill as many as he could, the responsibility would be Ranjit's.

The incident occurred shortly before the assembly elections of 1997 and is widely believed to have led to Ranjit Talwandi's defeat on the Akali Dal ticket from the Raikot constituency.

Initially, while Ranjit Talwandi was named in the FIR, the police presented a challan in court absolving Ranjit Talwandi of having any hand in the crime. Subsequently, an application was moved in the court and Ranjit's name was included in the list of the accused.

The six others sentenced were Jit Singh, Gurmit Singh, Kulwant Singh and constables Lakhvinder Singh, Paramjeet Singh and Pargat Singh. Apart from life imprisonment, they also been sentenced under various other sections of the IPC and the Arms Act. The FIR was registered under Sections 302, 323, 324, 325 and 149 of the IPC and Section 25 of the Arms Act.

Ranjit Talwandi was taken into custody while the others had been held earlier itself.