BJP MLA murder case: CBI takes possession of case diary

Ghazipur, Aug 3 (UNI) Investigating the gruesome murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai, CBI today took possession of the case diary and other documents from the police.

The central agency is probing the high-profile case following an order of the Allahabad High Court.

On July 25, the court had ordered that all the original documents related to the murder case be handed over to the Criminal Bureau of Invesgitation (CBI).

The central agency had submitted an application in this regard before Special Judge (SC/ST Act) Amarnath Upadhyay.

The three-member CBI team is here to investigate the case.

Meanwhile, another 12-member CBI team is expected to reach here tomorrow in this regard.

Earlier, the elite Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh Police was investigating the case.

However, Rai's widow Alka petitioned the HC demanding a CBI probe alleging slack and partisan inquiry by the police to shield the guilty.

On May 23, the HC handed over the inquiry to the central agency.

The UP government had even approached the apex court against the HC order. But, the apex court refused to grant stay on the matter.

Ever since, CBI took the probe in its hand, two of Rai's closest aides have allegedly been killed.

On May 24, armed miscreants had shot dead an aide of the slain BJP MLA under Bhanwarkol police station area here.

The criminals barged into the house of Awadh Bihari Rai alias Naga Rai in village Sherpur and shot him.

Recently, the only eye-witness of the BJP leader's killing had died under mysterious circumstances in Ghazipur. However, local police had claimed that he committed suicide.

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.

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

On a writ petition of the BJP MLA's widow, Allahabad High Court on May 23 had directed the Uttar Pradesh government to hand over the probe to CBI, which has already started its investigation.

Ruling Samajwadi Party MP Afzal Ansari, his younger brother don-turned-MLA Mukhtar Ansari and brother-in-law Ejaz are prime accused in Rai's assassination.

The trio are presently lodged in Ghazipur district prison.

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