Prayagraj Court sentences Atique Ahmed to life imprisonment in Umesh Pal Kidnapping Case

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Synopsis

The present case was lodged on the basis of a complaint filed by Umesh Pal in 2007 alleging the he, being an eyewitness to MLA Raju Pal's murder, had been kidnapped by Atique Ahmad's men who forced him to give false statement before court.

A local court in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday sentenced mafia-turned-politician Atique Ahmad, Dinesh Pasi and Khan Saulat Hanif to life imprisonment in the kidnapping case of Umesh Pal —an eyewitness in the BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case. This is the first conviction for Ahmad who is accused in more than 100 criminal cases. 

Ahmed's brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf and six others have been, however, acquitted in the case.

Additional Sessions Judge/MP MLA Court Allahabad Dr. Dinesh Chandra Shukla held Ahmad and Pasi guilty under Sections 364A/34 read with 120B, 147, 323/149, 341, 342, 504, 506(2) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 7 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act. 

The present case was lodged in the year 2007 on the basis of a complaint filed by Umesh Pal. In his complaint, Umesh Pal had stated that as he was an eyewitness to the murder of MLA Raju Pal by Atique Ahmad, his brother Ashraf and others, he was being threatened and on February 28, 2006, he was kidnapped by Ahmad's men who later made him give false statement before court. 

It is to be noted that Umesh Pal was recently killed outside his home at Prayagraj on February 24. Atique Ahmad and his brother are accused of conspiring for Pal's murder.

The Allahabad High Court recently directed the Uttar Pradesh Government to ensure safety and make proper arrangements for the security of Ahmad's brother and co-accused in Umesh Pal murder case Khalid Azim alias Ashraf during his transit from jail in Bareilly to Prayagra for interrogation purposes. 

Also, in a set back to Ahmad, the Supreme Court has dismissed his plea seeking protection during his custody with Uttar Pradesh police in the Umesh Pal murder case. 

Case Title: State of UP v Atique Ahmad and Others