The CPI(M) Politburo on Saturday demanded an immediate appeal by the CBI against the Patna High Court order acquitting former RJD MP Pappu Yadav in the murder case of party leader Ajit Sarkar in 1998. At the same time, Madhvi Sarkar, wife of the slain leader, said she would also approach the Supreme Court against the acquittal of Yadav.
Terming the acquittal of Yadav and others as “travesty of justice”, the party Politburo said: “The acquittal by the Patna High Court of Pappu Yadav and his cohorts for the murder of CPI(M) MlA and leader Ajit Sarkar is a travesty of justice. The lower court had found incontrovertible evidence of his guilt and he was serving a life sentence. On several occasions the Supreme Court had refused him bail. In the name of “giving the accused the benefit of doubt”, the High Court has acquitted him and ordered his release.
“The Politburo of the CPI(M) demands that the CBI take this matter seriously. It should expeditiously appeal against this verdict in the Supreme Court. Justice should not be denied in this case,” said the CPI(M) in a statement.
Meanwhile, Madhvi Sarkar, a former CPI(M) MlA, said she respected the court and it seemed that the prosecutor may have erred in placing facts before the Patna High Court that led to the acquittal of Yadav and two others. Stating that there was sufficient evidence in the murder case, Madhvi said she will approach the apex court against the acquittal.
Her son Amit also said the family would move the Supreme Court after going through the detailed court order.
Sarkar, a former CPI(M) legislator, was shot dead by unidentified persons in Bihar’s Purnia district on June 14, 1998.
A division bench comprising justices VN Singh and KK lal acquitted Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav and two others — Rajan Tiwari and Anil Kumar Yadav — of all charges in connection with Sarkar’s killing for want of evidence. The court also directed the authorities to release Yadav from jail forthwith if he was not wanted in any other case.