The CBI Lucknow court has sentenced life imprisonment to seven accused in the murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal. The accused also include three sharp shooters of mafia Atiq Ahmed, Farhan, Abid and Abdul Kavi. Apart from this, the court has also sentenced Javed, Israr, Ranjit Pal and Gul Hasan to life imprisonment. Mafia two accused in the murder case, Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf, have died. The court has sentenced six accused to life imprisonment, while another accused Farhan has been sentenced to four years imprisonment under the Arms Act.
In 2016, the Supreme Court handed over the investigation to CBI
The investigation of Raju Pal murder case was handed over to CBI by the Supreme Court on 22 January 2016. Pooja Pal had filed an application in the Supreme Court requesting a CBI investigation into the matter. Nearly 11 years after the incident, the Supreme Court handed over the investigation of the case to the CBI.
Along with the murder of Raju Pal, Devi Lal Pal and Sandeep Yadav who were present with him were also killed. On August 20, 2019, CBI had filed a charge sheet against a total of 10 people. One accused Rafiq alias Gulful Pradhan has died.
Bullets were fired in broad daylight
It was around 3 o’clock in the afternoon on Tuesday, January 25, 2005. City West’s BSP MLA Raju Pal was returning home in a convoy of two vehicles in a convoy of two vehicles from the post-mortem house at SRN Hospital in Niwan, Dhumanganj, when his vehicle was surrounded and opened fire on GT Road in Sulemsarai.
Raju Pal himself was driving Qualis. Sitting next to him was Rukhsana, his friend’s wife whom he had met near Chowfatka. Sandeep Yadav and Devi Lal were also in the same car. There were four people in the Scorpio including driver Mahendra Patel and Omprakash and Saif of Niwan. There was one armed policeman each in both the vehicles. People nearby still shudder remembering the sound of bullets.
MLA Pooja Pal said, even if late, justice was received
After getting her husband’s killers punished, MLA Pooja Pal said – not just me, every person who was victimized by the Atiq Ahmed gang has got justice today. She respects the court’s decision. The struggle that has been going on for 19 years has borne fruit. Thank you to everyone who helped in this fight.