On Friday, a special CBI Court in Lucknow convicted seven people in the killing of former Bahujan Samaj Party MLA Raju Pal in 2005, a case in which murdered gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad was also an accused.
The legal proceedings against Atiq Ahmad, his brother & prime accused Khalid Azim alias Ashraf, & Gulbul alias Rafiq were abated after their death, news agency PTI reported.
The convicted persons included Farhaan Ahmad, Abdul Kavi, Ranjeet Pal, Israr Ahmad, Javed, Gulhasan & Abid.
Who was BSP MLA Raju Pal?
- Raju Pal, a BSP leader from Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, was gunned down on January 25, 2005, as a result of political rivalry with Atiq Ahmad's brother Ashraf, whom he had defeated in the 2004 bypoll to the Prayagraj West seat.
- The BSP leader had lost the election to the seat to Atiq Ahmad in 2002 but when the latter vacated it after being elected to the Lok Sabha, Raju Pal defeated Ashraf in the bypoll.
- Raju Pal murder: Legal proceedings
- The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had taken over the probe into the case in 2016.
- The Special Judge CBI, Lucknow, held Ranjeet Pal, Abid, Farhan Ahmad, Israr Ahmad, Javed, Gulhasan, & Abdul Kavi guilty in the case for criminal conspiracy & murder among other serious charges.
- Accused Farhan Ahmad was additionally held guilty under the Indian Arms Act.
- Atiq Ahmad, brother Ashraf's murders
- Atiq Ahmad & his brother Ashraf were killed in a sensational on-camera shooting on April 15 last year when assailants opened fire at them near a medical college in Prayagraj while in police custody.
- The shooting was caught on camera as journalists were following the duo being escorted to the hospital by the police for a medical checkup.
- At least two persons were seen firing from close range at Atiq Ahmad & Ashraf who fell to the ground, while police personnel overpowered the attackers.
Picture Source :
