The Patna High Court on Friday acquitted controversial former RJD MP Rajesh Ranjan, alias Pappu Yadav, along with former MlA Rajan Tiwari and Anil Kumar Yadav in connection with the murder of CPI (M) leader Ajit Sarkar.
In several quarters in the State, there was a sense of shock and disbelief over the judgement, which set aside their conviction and life imprisonment awarded by a lower court in 2008. The division bench of Patna High Court comprising Justice VN Sinha and Justice AK lal acquitted Pappu Yadav, a dreaded don of the past, who was accused of being directly involved in the murder. However, the court gave him and two others the benefit of doubt.
The court in its 273 page judgement directed for the release of Pappu Yadav if not required in any other case.
A firebrand former CPI(M) legislator, Ajit Sarkar, who had a strained relationship with Pappu Yadav over issues relating to farm labourers, was gunned down along with his driver and a party worker at Subhash Nagar in Purnea town on June 14, 1998.
After the death of Sarkar, his wife, Madhavi Sarkar had unsuccessfully contested the State Assembly election in 2000.
She said that she was surprised over the verdict as there were sufficient evidences against the accused. She said that she would hold consultations with the CPI(M) leaders and workers and will definitely take all possible steps to challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court,.
CBI Counsel Bipin Kumar Singh told The Pioneer that altogether five people were made accused in the case. The trial of two other, Aman Yadav and Harish Kumar Choudhary, is underway.
The counsel said that he would first study the judgement and subsequently take a final decision on the issue of challenging High Court's judgement in the Supreme Court,
The Supreme Court had once cancelled the bail granted to Pappu Yadav by Patna High Court by taking serious objection to his conduct both inside and outside the prison.