BJP MLA murder case posted to Jan 8

Ghazipur, Jan 6 (UNI) Charges against the accused in the high-profile Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai murder case could not be framed today.

Prime accused controvertial Independent MLA Mukhtar Ansari, his brother and ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Afzal Ansari and their brother in-law Ejaj-ul-haq appeared before Fast Track Court (I) Judge Shailendra Singh.

The court had fixed January 6 for the next hearing asking CBI to hand over the original documents relating to the case.

So far, CBI has not handed over the papers to the court which inturn has fixed January 8 for the next hearing.

Rai, an MLA from Mohammadabad constituency in Ghazipur district, and his seven supporters were shot dead in broad daylight 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 Mukhtar Ansari, his brother Afzal Ansari and notorious eastern UP gangster Munna Bajrangi in connection with the killing.

Both the Ansari brothers are in jail at present.

Afzal had surrendered in the court on December 8, 2005.

Another accused Mansoor Ahmed Ansari had recently surrendered before a special CBI court.

On the petition of Rai's widow Alka, the Allahabad High Court had ordered CBI to investigate the case.

UNI