Mau: Mafia-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari and seven others were acquitted by a local court on Wednesday while three others were awarded life imprisonment in the sensational murder case of contractor Munna Singh. Contractor Ajay Prakash Singh alias Munna Singh was shot dead near Ghazipur crossing in front of Union Bank on August 29, 2009. Driver of Ansari, Shabbir and friend Ajay Rai were also injured in firing. Later, Ajay Rai died during the treatment. Kotwali Police had registered the case against the unknown persons on an application of Harendra Singh, brother of MUnna Singh.
In a chargesheet, police had nominated cantonment MLA Mukhtar Ansari, Umesh Singh, Rajneesh Singh, Santosh Singh, Rakesh Kumar Pandey, Amresh Kanujiya, Anuj Kanaujiya, Raju alias Jamvant Kanaujiya, Vinay Singh, Upendra Singh, Arvind Yadav and Kamlesh Yadav. One accused Kamlesh Yadav died in police encounter following which the court had started trial on 11 accused.
After hearing both the parties, Additional District Session Justice (Third) Asil Aftab Ahmad acquitted eight included Ansari and awarded life imprisonment to Amresh Kanujiya, Jamvant alias Raju and Arvind Yadav. Ansari had contested the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh on Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket and won from the Mau Assembly seat. (UNI)