LUCKNOW: The Lucknow CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) court has delivered its verdict in the murder case of former BSP MLA Raju Pal. Special Judge Kavita Mishra of the Lucknow CBI Court (I) has convicted seven accused in the Rajupal murder case of Prayagraj and sentenced them to life imprisonment. Additionally, everyone has been fined Rs 50,000 each. The court has sentenced Farhan Ahmed, Israr Ahmed, Ranjit Pal, Javed, Abid Gulshan, and Abdul Kavi to life imprisonment.
For those unaware, on January 25, 2005, former BSP MLA Rajupal was murdered, sparking widespread outrage in the city. Raju Pal’s wife, Pooja Pal, had filed a case against nine people, including the then MP Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf, at Dhumanganj police station. Following an investigation, the police filed a charge sheet against 11 accused in April 2005.
Subsequently, the investigation was transferred to the crime branch of CID. In 2008, during the advanced investigation under the BSP rule, the then investigator, NS Parihar, also sought Abdul Kavi’s arrest, but he remained elusive. In this murder case, the fugitive accused made arrangements for their arrest, but Abdul Kavi did not surrender. A resident of Kaushambi Sarai Akil, Abdul Kavi remained elusive to the police. Despite efforts, the police and STF could not apprehend him. Later, on the orders of the High Court, the CBI investigated the Rajupal murder case. The CBI filed a charge sheet against only 10 out of 17 accused, including Atiq and Ashraf, but Abdul Kavi was also implicated.
