Pappu Yadav gets lifer in Ajit Sarkar murder case

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The court also slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 to each of the convicts. Patna Additional District and Sessions Judge B M Srivastava after a detailed hearing found Pappu Yadav guilty under section 302 RW 120 (b) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), while Rajan Tiwary and Anil Yadav were awarded similar sentence under section 302 RW 34.

The court also awarded seven years RI to Ranjan Tiwari under section 307 of the IPC. Both the sentences would, however, run concurrently.
After hearing on the quantum of punishment the judge, however, did not found the case ''the rarest of rare'' and awarded life imprisonment and fines to all the three convicts.

CPI (M) MLA Ajit Sarkar and popular leader in south Bihar was shot dead at Purnea on June 14,1998 following which cases were lodged against all the three convicts. Later, the CBI took up the case and produced as many as 88 witnesses. Of them 27 turned hostile while deposing before the court.

All the three convicts including Pappu Yadav were presently lodged in different jails and brought here this morning to appear in the court. Of them while Pappu Yadav was lodged in New Delhi's Tihar jail, Rajan Tiwari and Anil Yadav were lodged in Beur Central jail here. Immediately after the judgement they were taken back to their respective jails.

Later speaking to newspersons, Meera Devi, wife of the slain leader, expressed 'happiness' at the verdict and felt that justice was done after her long battle. Meanwhile, the lawyers of Papau Yadav hinted that they would soon appeal before the High Court against the decision.

UNI