Fixing of charges in BJP MLA murder case on July 17

Ghazipur, Jul 3 (UNI) A local court today posted the BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai murder case to July 17 for fixing of charges against the accused including ruling Samajwadi Party MP Afzal Ansari, and his younger brother and don-turned-Independent MLA Mukhtar Ansari.

Earlier, the duo along with their brother-in-law Ejaj Ansari were produced before special SC/ST court judge Amarnath Upadhayay.

On an application filed by Ramnarain Rai seeking handing over the high profile murder case to the CBI as per the Allahabad High Court order, the judge posted the hearing to July 10.

Meanwhile, another prime accused Sanjiv Maheshwari alias Jeeva was produced before officiating Ghazipur CJM Ved Prakash Sharma.

Jeeva was brought here from Delhi's high security Tihar Jail aboard Swatantra Senani Express escorted by the Delhi Police.

The accused submitted an application, claiming he was indisposed and was made to stand throughout the journey from Delhi.

Jeeva prayed that he be provided medical facilities and shifted to the Ghazipur jail from Tihar under judicial custody.

However, his application was rejected by the court with a direction to give proper medical care to him.

Jeeva will now be produced before the court on July 15.

Mukhtar and 32 others are also accused in the Mau communal riots, which had rocked the district on October 14, 2005 during a 'Bharat Milap' ceremony.

Rai, an MLA from Mohammadabad assembly constituency in Ghazipur district, and his seven supporters were shot dead in Ghazipur on November 29 last year.

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

Later, an FIR was lodged against 10 persons, including Afzal, Mukhtar and notorious east UP gangster Munna Bajrangi, in connection with the killing.

Afzal surrendered before the court on December 8, 2005.

UNI XC/VS RR HT1810