Atiq murder: UP govt files caveat urging SC to hear its side before passing order

The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday filed a caveat in the Supreme Court, urging it to hear the state's side before passing an order on the killing of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf amid tight police security.

The Yogi Adityanath government filed the caveat through advocate Ruchira Goel, pleading that no order be passed without hearing them.

Atiq and his brother were shot dead at point-blank range by three men posing as journalists in the middle of a media interaction on April 15.

The shooting took place when police personnel were taking them to a hospital in Prayagraj for a medical checkup.

On Monday, the top court agreed to hear a plea seeking an inquiry into the 183 encounters that have taken place in Uttar Pradesh since 2017, including the killing of the mafia brothers.

Advocate Vishal Tiwari, who has filed the petition, urged a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha that his plea be listed for hearing on April 24.

"Several judges are down with Covid-19, and some cases in which dates were given have not been listed. We will try to list this on Friday," the CJI said.

Recently, the Uttar Pradesh Police announced that they have gunned down 183 alleged criminals in encounters in the six years of Yogi Adityanath's government, that includes Atiq Ahmed's son Asad and his accomplice, who were killed in Jhansi.

The petitioner also sought the setting up of an independent expert committee to investigate the killing of Atiq and Ashraf.