Umesh Pal Abduction Case: Prayagraj Court pronounces Atiq Ahmed guilty; sentenced to life imprisonment

Prayagraj: Facing more than 100 criminal cases, noted mafia and former MP Atiq Ahmed was convicted for the first time in 43 years. A Prayagraj court on Tuesday held Atiq Ahmad and two of his aides guilty in Umesh Pal kidnapping case and sentenced them to life imprisonment.

However, seven other accused in the case including brother of Atiq and former legislator Ashraf has been acquitted in the case.

Penalty along with life sentence

Special MP-MLA court of Prayagraj while giving its verdict in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case sentenced Atiq and two of his associates Saulat Hanif a lawyer and Dinesh Pasi to rigorous life imprisonment. Judge Dinesh Chandra Shukla imposed a penalty of Rs one lakh each on the three. This amount would be given to the family of Umesh Pal. Umesh Pal, the prime witness in the legislator Raju Pal murder case, was shot dead while his two police gunners were critically injured in a shootout in Sulem Sarai area of Prayagraj last month. One of the police gunners too succumbed to injuries later on.

The wife of deceased Umesh Pal, who was prime witness in the Raju Pal murder case, has lodged an FIR against family members of Atiq Ahmad along with close aides of former MP.The UP Police had filed a charge sheet against 10 in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case which included Atiq Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, Dinesh Pasi, Saulat Haneef and others. 

Atiq Ahmad sent back to Sabarmati jail

Atiq Ahmad was lodged in Sabarmati jail in Gujrat from where he was brought to Prayagraj last evening to be produced in the court. After getting lifer Atiq Ahmad was sent back to Sabarmati jail on Tuesday late evening. 

The Additional Director General (ADG) Law & order Prashant Kumar said that for the first time noted don of UP Atiq Ahmad has been sentenced in any case. First criminal case against Atiq Ahmad was lodged in 1979 in Prayagraj and at present there are 101 cases lodged against him. ADG Prosecution Ashutosh Pandey said judgement in three more cases related to Atiq Ahmad might come very soon as the trial in these are in advance stage.