Patna HC admits Pappu's appeal against life sentence

Patna, Apr 16 : The Patna High Court on Wednesday admitted the appeal of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav challenging the CBI court order sentencing him to life imprisonment for plotting the murder of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) MLA Ajit Sarkar.

A division bench comprising Justices Mridula Mishra and Shailesh Kumar Singh admitted the petition. On February 14th a special CBI Judge B M Srivastava had pronounced Pappu Yadav, former independent MLA Rajan Tiwari and another accused Anil Yadav guilty. They were also fined Rs 10,000 each.

Sarkar, who had a feud with Yadav over issues related to farm labourers, was shot dead in Purnea on June 14, 1998.

The CBI had chargesheeted five persons including Pappu, Tiwari, Anil, Harish Chaudhary and Amar Yadav.

ANI