Key witness recognises rifle seized in Raja Bhaiyya case

Jabalpur, Mar 4 (UNI) A key witness today admitted recovery of AK 56 rifle from Uttar Pradesh Minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya's Bhadrimahal residence before a special POTA court here.

Special Judge R C Mishra's court -- hearing POTA cases against Raja Bhaiyya, his father Uday Pratap Singh and brother Akshay Pratap Singh -- today recorded statements of prosecution witnesses Sub-inspector R S Dwivedi, constable Dinesh Kumar Mishra and one Shyamcharan.

Mr Dwivedi said he had signed the documents of materials seized during the raid on January 25, 2003. However, he could not recognise the weapons.

Mr Dinesh told the court that he could recognise the weapons seized -- an assault rifle, cartridges and powder --during the raid.

On cross-examination by defence counsel Sushil Kumar, he said he even remembered the number of rifles.

The constable recognised the weapons -- an assault rifle, more than 40 cartridges, a powder bag and a broken part of rifle -- before the court.

He said he had gone to Bhadrimahal under leadership of circle inspector Ram Shiromani Pandey for execution of a warrant issued under the Gangster Act on January 25, 2003.

The constable said he had seen the rifle slung over Raja Bhaiyya's shoulders.

Responding to a question by the defence counsel, Mr Dinesh said Raja Bhaiyya had been strolling near a platform in front of a temple in the verandah of his residence on the day of raid. Raja Bhaiyya was overseeing distribution of 'prasad'.

The constable said he had gone along with the inspector for conducting the raid in a government vehicle.

The seizure took place in Raja Bhaiyya's presence at Bhadrimahal and he had signed the memorandum of seizure.

Raja Bhaiyya and his father were present in the court during the hearing.

The court directed to provide full security to the constable in view of circumstances. The district police provided security to Mr Dinesh and sent him to Allahabad.

UNI XC-PS RR KP2040