HC stays Krishnanand Rai's murder case hearing in Ghazipur

Allahabad, Nov 2 (UNI) The Allahabad High Court today stayed the trial of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai assassination case in the sessions court, Ghazipur.

The order was passed by Justice M K Mittal on transfer applications filed by CBI and Ram Narayan Rai, elder sibling of the BJP MLA.

Both the applications had been filed for transfer of Rai's case from Ghazipur to a special court, Lucknow.

Staying the trial, the HC further directed don-turned Independent MLA Mukhtar Ansari, his elder brother and SP MP Afzal Ansari to file counter affidavits in this regard.

Their brother-in-law Ejaj-ul-haq is also the prime accused in the case.

Rai, an MLA from Mohammadabad constituency in Ghazipur district, along with his seven supporters, was shot dead in a broad daylight near his native village Goundour here on November 29, 2005.

They were ambushed near the Ballia-Ghazipur border by several motorcycle-borne miscreants armed with sophisticated weapons.

An FIR was lodged at Bhanvarkol police station against 10 people, including Mukhtar, Afzal and notorious east UP gangster Munna Bajrangi in connection with the killing. Afzal surrendered in the court on December 8, 2005.

Later, Rai's wife Alka had filed a petition demanding CBI investigation in the case.

The CBI had investigated the case on HC's direction and filed chargesheets in the case before the CBI court. The civil police had also filed chargesheets.

The Court will hear this case on November 14.

UNI