E-Paper
Tainted set to go scot-free
Legislators AND MPs belonging to the ruling party in the State are having a ball. Withdrawal of criminal cases registered against them is being cited the cause behind their happiness.
Legislators AND MPs belonging to the ruling party in the State are having a ball. Withdrawal of criminal cases registered against them is being cited the cause behind their happiness.
The move is said to have beeb taken due to pressure exerted by them and to some extent by the fact that the ruling party wants to keep its flock together by keeping them in good humour in view of the forthcoming State Assembly elections.
Police sources said, the list of such beneficiaries includes even those politicians, who have a criminal background. Many of them are the listed mafiosi with murder, loot, dacoity, Gangsters Act and land and house grabbing cases registered against them. Local list carries the names of criminal-turned-politician Atique Ahmad, who represents Phulpur in Parliament, his brother Ashraf, MLA from the City West constituency, Vijay Misra, MLA from Bhadohi, who allegedly spends all his time in the city, eyeing property of others, Mohd Shami and some others.
The State list carries the names of Mukhtar Ansari, his brother Afzal Ansari, MP, Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya, his kin Akshay Pratap Singh and several other MLAs and MPs.
There may not be any written order in this regard but several station officers have allegedly been asked to file final reports in matters concerning these MPs and MLAs and close the chapter even related to heinous crimes like murders, said a police officer, who wished anonymity.
If sources are to be believed, station officers are being told to make such notes like, "Inke khilaf muqadma chalana jan hit mein nahin hai (pursuing cases against them is not in public interest)." With not much authority in their hands, several station officers have taken such verbal directives with a pinch of salt. But they have no other alternative if they want to continue with the same postings.
What is worse, the complainants are also being side-tracked by the police leaving them fuming. Those who resent a favourable report against the accused are being threatened with dire consequences by the police.
Some cases withdrawn against Atique Ahmad and his brother Ashraf include Crime Number 27/2001 under Sections 147, 148, 149, 353, 386, 504, 506, 323 and 364 IPC and SC/ST Act, Section 7 of Cr Law Amendment Act and Section 2/3 Gangster Act.
Crime Number 257/2002 2/3 Gangster Act.
Crime Number 266/2002 2/3 Gangster Act.
According to sources, while this may be just an example, nearly 19 cases are in the process of being withdrawn against the duo and a fresh list is being prepared.
Police sources said all criminal cases against Ateeq and Ashraf except the one regarding BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case, in which the Supreme Court had intervened a few months back, were likely to be withdrawn before the Assembly elections.
Mukhtar Ansari, against whom the CBI is conducting probe in BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai murder case, may also get similar concessions.
Mohd Shami heads a listed gang number IS 197 of dacoits but police officers have gone to the extent of writing to the government that the gang has become inactive.
Sahu, a builder, was murdered in 1994 in Civil Lines. Both Ashraf and Atique were named in the case. Ashraf through manipulations had managed to show himself arrested under the Arms Act at police station Chandauli near Varanasi. The CB-CID had charge-sheeted him. However the final report has been allegedly forwarded.
Inspector Kazi, who had favoured Ashraf in this case, was even placed under suspension. Later Mukhtar Ansari managed to get the same inspector posted at the police station under which BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai was murdered, said police sources.
