Final arguments in Ajit Sarkar murder case deferred

Patna, June 15 (UNI) Additional district and sessions judge Birendra Mohan Srivastav today deferred the final arguments in MLA Ajit Sarkar murder case till July 2.

The judge granted time sought by the accused in separate petitions to approach Patna High Court against his order refusing permission to produce more defence witnesses in the court.

Earlier, the judge had refused to permit the accused to produce more defence witnesses in the court and ordered for initiation of final arguments in the case.

Later, the accused had filed petition before the court seeking time to get relief from the Patna High Court against this order.

The court had already rejected the appeal of RJD MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, former MLA Rajan Tiwari and Anil Yadav-the accused in the case, who through separate petitions had requested for granting three months additional time for producing defence witnesses.

CBI had produced as many as 61 witnesses in the case. On the other hand, 27 witnesses were produced by the accused in their defence within six months time granted by the court.

CPI(M) leader and MLA Ajit Sarkar was shot dead at Purnea on June 14, 1998.

RJD MP Yadav is currently lodged in Tihar jail of Delhi by an order of Supreme court in connection with this case.

UNI