Father's adversaries framed me, says Amit Jogi

Raipur, June 1 (UNI) Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi's son Amit, who was acquitted by a sessions court yesterday, said his father's political 'adversaries' had framed him in NCP leader Ram Avatar Jaggi murder case.

''There was a conspiracy to implicate me in the case, but I got justice from the court,'' he told newspersons late last night after his release from central jail here.

He, however, refused to name the political adversaries saying that he would reveal it at an ''appropriate time.'' Additional District and Sessions Judge B L Tidke acquitted Amit Jogi against whom the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed chargesheet under section 302 and 120 B of IPC for murder and conspiracy.

However, the court convicted 28 other accused and sentenced 19 of them to life imprisonment and nine others for five years.

State NCP Treasurer Ram Avatar Jaggi was shot dead on June 4, 2003, six months before the maiden assembly elections in Chhattisgarh. Opposition parties, including the NCP, had then termed it ''first political murder'' of the newly-carved state, alleging involvement of then Chief Minister Ajit Jogi and his close associates.

UNI