TV actor who played Karna in Mahabharata gets 10 years in jail for killing neighbour over eucalyptus tree dispute

A television actor known for portraying Karna in the mythological serial Jai Mahabharata has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing his neighbour following a dispute over eucalyptus trees. A court in Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor district convicted actor Bhupendra Singh, 57, for the December 2023 shooting incident that left one person dead and two others injured, a TOI report stated. Additional Sessions Judge Dr Shahzad Ali also imposed a fine of Rs 1.5 lakh on Singh. The court directed him to pay Rs 10 lakh in compensation to the family of the deceased and Rs 5 lakh each to two people injured in the incident.

Three other accused in the case, Gyan Singh, Jeevan Singh alias Jovandeep and Gurjant, were acquitted due to a lack of sufficient evidence against them.

What happened in the eucalyptus tree dispute?

The incident dates back to December 3, 2023, when an argument broke out between Bhupendra Singh and farmer Gurdeep Singh in Kuakhera Khadri village. The village falls under the jurisdiction of Barhapur police station in Bijnor. The disagreement reportedly concerned the ownership of eucalyptus trees planted along the boundary separating their agricultural fields. What began as a dispute over the trees allegedly turned violent.


According to the prosecution, Singh abused Gurdeep during the argument before opening fire at him. Gurdeep sustained injuries in the shooting. The situation escalated when family members reached the spot. Govind was allegedly held back by the other accused, allowing Bhupendra Singh to shoot him. Govind died in the incident. Two other people, identified as Boota Singh and Veeru Devi, were also injured. They were allegedly attacked with sticks during the confrontation.

Police recovered revolver used in shooting

Investigators later recovered the revolver allegedly used in the crime at Bhupendra Singh's instance. During the trial, the prosecution presented 13 witnesses before the court to establish its case. Additional District Government Counsel Ajit Panwar and Pramod Sharma represented the prosecution. After examining the evidence and witness statements, the court convicted Singh and awarded him a 10-year prison sentence. The three other accused were acquitted as the prosecution could not establish their involvement beyond the required legal standard.

Bhupendra Singh's television and film career

Bhupendra Singh entered the entertainment industry in 1996. He became known for playing Karna in the television serial Jai Mahabharata, a role that brought him recognition among viewers of mythological television shows. Over the years, he appeared in several television productions across different genres. His credits include 1857 Kranti, in which he portrayed Nana Sahib, along with popular serials such as Yeh Pyaar Na Hoga Kam, Ek Hasina Thi and Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon.

He also featured in Kaala Teeka and Rishton Ka Chakravyuh.

Apart from television, Singh worked in Hindi films, including Shyam Ghanshyam, Yuvvraaj and Soch Lo. His acting career also included appearances in Tamil and Telugu productions.