Niece of Ajit Sarkar deposes for MP Pappu Yadav

Patna, May 24 (UNI) In an unusual turn of events in the 1998 murder case of CPI(M) leader Ajit Sarkar, his niece Madhumita Devi today deposed before a sessions court here as a defence witness for RJD MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav.

Deposing before Additional District and Sessions judge, Patna, Virendra Mohan Shirvastava, Madhumita Devi confirmed that she was the daughter of Kalyan Chandra Sarkar, brother of slain Ajit Sarkar, and she used to address Pappu Yadav as ''Chacha'' since her childhood because the relation between Mr Yadav and Mr Sarkar was like brothers.

In cross examination by CBI counsel the defence witness said that there was, however, no relation between her husband Raju Yadav and the MP.

Incidentally, Madhumita's father Kalyan Sarkar had earlier deposed before the court for CBI as an important prosecution witness.

Ajit Sarkar, the then CPI-M 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. Mr Yadav is currently lodged in Tihar jail by a Supreme Court order and was produced in the local court through Video Conferencing.

UNI