Accused in blast case denied bail

Ghazipur, June 27 (UNI) A court today rejected the bail application of two persons arrested in connection with the blast at the residence of slain BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai here yesterday.

Rai's nephew Manoj and Babudhan of Bihar appeared in the Chief Judicial Magistrate court, which rejected their bail plea and sent them to 14 days judicial custody.

Earlier in the day, the duo had presented an application before the court, which stated. ''Since, controversial Mau MLA Mukhtar Ansari and SP MP Afzal Ansai -- prime accused in the Rai murder case -- are lodged in Ghazipur jail, there would be constant threat to their life, if lodged in the same prison.'' The court directed the district jail superintendent P K Shukla to take necessary action under law in this regard.

Meanwhile, Mr Shukla said the accused Would be transferred to some other jail on the DM's nod.

At the time of blast, Manoj, a gunman Dharmendra and domestic help Chhotu were present in one room, while another gunman Nandkumar and Babudhan were in another room, which was hit by the explosion.

At least one person was killed and three injured in a blast at the residence of the former BJP MLA.

The three injured were Manoj Rai, a cook, Manoj Kanaujia of Bihar and a security personnel Ram Kumar Thakur.

It was an accidental explosion, as explosives were stocked there to target the vehicle of a sitting legislator.

SP MLA Sibagtullah Ansari, brother of controversial Independent MLA Mukhtar Ansari, has alleged that the explosives had been stored at Rai's residence in order to eleminate his two brothers when they came out of the jail to appear before the court in the case.

Manoj Rai is a witness in the Krishnanand Rai murder case.

Krishnanand Rai was shot dead by a group of assailants on November 29, 2005. Mukhtar Ansari is the prime accused in the assassination of Rai.

UNI