Pappu Yadav produced in Ajit Sarkar murder case

Patna, Nov 8 (UNI) RJD MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav was today produced in a local court for recording of his statement as an accused in connection with the murder of a senior CPM leader Ajit Sarkar.

Following issuance of production warrant, authorities of Tihar Jail, New Delhi, produced Mr Yadav in the court of additional district and sessions judge Brindra Mohan Srivastav for recording of his statement. Mr Yadav prayed before the court to grant him an additional week's time to reply to the queries as he had neither heard nor studied the statements given by the witnesses given in the case.

Opposing the plea of Mr Yadav, CBI filed a rejoinder to his petition but after hearing the arguments of both sides, the court granted one week time to RJD leader and directed the authorities of Tihar jail to produce him again on November 16 for recording his statement.

Earlier, Mr Yadav was shifted to Tihar jail on the directive of apex court and he was since being produced in the case through video conferencing.

The court fixed November 16 as the next date of hearing.

Mr Yadav is among the several accused along with Mr Rajan Tiwari, former MLA, in the case. Mr Sarkar was shot dead at Purnea on June 14,1998.

UNI XC-RS/KK/src1622