Charges framed in BJP MLA murder case; next hearing on Jan 11

Ghazipur, Jan 8 (UNI) A local court today framed charges against accused in the high-profile Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai murder case.

The prime accused, controversial 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.

Charges against Mukhtar and his brother were framed under IPC sections 120 B, 147, 148, 149, 302, 307, 407 and section 7 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act.

Except IPC section 120 B, all other sections are also applicable to Ejaj. The court fixed January 11 for the next hearing.

Now, the 68 witnesses in the case, including slain BJP leader's sibling Raman Rai, have to give their testimony before court.

Earlier, the accused had given an application requesting to release them, if no charges are framed against them.

Although, the court on January 4 had ordered CBI to hand over the original documents relating to the case, the central agency has not returned the same so far.

Rai, an MLA from Mohammadabad constituency in Ghazipur district, 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.

Later, an FIR was lodged against ten persons, including Mukhtar Ansari, 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