Murder accused ruling SP MP denied permission to attend Parliament

Ghazipur, July 21 (UNI) The lower court today denied permission to ruling Samajwadi Party MP Afzal Ansari, the prime accused in BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai murder case and lodged in district jail, to attend the monsoon session of Parliament beginning July 24.

On Tuesday, Ansari had submitted an application in the court of special judge (SC/ST Act) Amarnath Upadhyay in this regard.

In his plea, the accused had mentioned that he had been granted permission on previous occasions to attend Parliament proceedings.

Turning down his plea, the judge observed since the murder probe was on, Ansari could be required for quizzing. As such, he could not be allowed to attend the monsoon session of Parliament in Delhi between July 24 and 30.

The high-profile murder case is listed for hearing on July 31.

Afzal's younger brother don-turned-MLA Mukhtar Ansari and brother-in-law Ejaz are also prime accused in Rai's assassination.

Yesterday, Allahabad High Court had reserved its order on the bail applications of Afzal Ansari and Mukhtar Ansari. The bail applications were filed in the HC after the lower court refused to grant them bail.

Justice Poonam Srivastava reserved the order after hearing the parties at length. In the last hearing, the HC had asked the CBI to file its counter affidavit, if any, by July 20.

However, the CBI was insisting for further time, but the court heard the case and reserved its order.

Rai, an MLA from Mohammadabad assembly constituency in Ghazipur, and his seven supporters were shot dead in broad daylight in Ghazipur on November 29, 2005 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 in the court on December 8.

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