The Supreme Court on Friday handed over the probe into the killing of a UP legislator Raju Pal in 2005 to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) with a direction to complete the probe, preferably within six months.
The order by a Bench of Justices PC Ghose and Amitava Roy came on a petition filed by the slain MlA’s wife Pooja Pal. The court found that Pal belonged to the BSP and the main accused person in his murder was a former MP of Samajwadi Party Atique Ahmed and his brother Ashraf, who continued to be associated with the party which is currently in power in the State.
The petition was pending in apex court since 2006. Despite assurance from state police that a fair probe will be conducted, the apex court had taken note of threats being issued to the petitioner and her mother-in-law during the proceedings. Subsequently, the Court had even directed them to be provided security.