NEW DELHI: A Prayagraj court in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday sentenced gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and two others to rigorous life imprisonment, after finding them guilty in the 2007 kidnapping case of Umesh Pal, an eye-witness in the BSP MLA Raju Pal’s murder.
The court, however, acquitted seven others earlier accused in the case, including Atiq’s brother Ashraf.
A fine of Rs 5,000 was imposed on all the three pronounced guilty- Atiq, Dinesh Pasi and Khan Shaukat Haneef. They were also ordered to pay the family of Umesh Pal a sum of Rs One Lakh each.
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court refused to hear Atiq Ahmed’s petition seeking protection in connection with the case. Instead, the apex court directed Ahmed’s lawyer to approach the High Court to air his grievances.
A petition filed by Ahmed was being heard- a plea raising apprehensions about being shifted to a prison in Uttar Pradesh fearing for his security. Ahmed’s counsel, appearing on his behalf, alleged that the former Samajwadi Party MP’s life is being threatened. Ahmed’s counsel is reported to have said that if the court denied the petitioner protection, it would mean a death warrant for him.
Reacting to his plea, the apex court is said to have responded, “This is not a matter for this court. Go back to high court.”
On Tuesday afternoon, Ahmed was produced before an Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj court of in connection with the 2007 kidnapping of Umesh Pal. According to reports, as he was coming out of the Sabarmati jail, Ahmed said in response to some reporter’s question, “Mujhe inka programme maloom hai… Hatya karna chahte hain (I know their plan…They want to murder me),” when asked if he was feeling scared.
The case involved the alleged kidnapping of Umesh Pal, who was shot dead in Prayagraj along with his two police guards, on February 24. Umesh was an eyewitness in the 2005 Raju Pal murder case in which Ahmed is a prime accused. Umesh’s wife, Jaya, said in 2006 the former MP and his associates kidnapped her husband, forcing him to give a favourable statement in court.
After Umesh was murdered last month, an FIR against Ahmed and his wife Sahista Parveen, their two sons, his younger brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf and others, was registered.
“We will make sure that every mafia connected to the kidnapping of Umesh Pal is punished,” a senior police official said.
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