Defence witness deposes in 1998 Ajit Sarkar murder case

Patna, May 23 (UNI) A ''sarpanch'' of Kudauli panchayat in Purnia district today deposed before a sessions court here as a Defence witness for RJD MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav in the CPI(M) leader Ajit Sarkar murder case.

Deposing before the additional district and sessions judge, Patna, Virendra Mohan Shirvastava the Defence witness Kripanath Das said on April 14,1998, Pappu Yadav attended the Bengali New Year's celebration at Mr Sarkar's residence where he described Mr Yadav as a ''genius who is ready to work for the development of Purnia''.

Incidentally, Mr Sarkar, himself a state legislator, was shot dead at Purnia on June 14,1998. RJD MP Mr Yadav and former MLA Rajan Tiwari are among the accused facing trial in the case.

However, Mr Yadav is currently lodged in Tihar jail by a Supereme Court order and was produced in the local court through Video Conferencing.

UNI