Supreme Court Bench allows Atiq to approach the Allahabad High Court for protection

Prayagraj: Gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed and two others have been found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment by a Court in Prayagraj in the 2006 kidnapping case of Umesh Pal, a witness in the BSP MLA Raju Pal’s murder. Umesh Pal, too, was killed last month in an attack allegedly orchestrated by the two.

Seven others, including Atiq Ahmed’s brother Khalid Azim, have been acquitted in the case. Earlier, the Supreme Court rejected Atiq Ahmed’s request for protection during his UP Police custody. 

The Supreme Court Bench, however, allowed Atiq Ahmed to approach the Allahabad High Court for protection after claiming a threat to his life in UP Police’s custody.

It may be noted that following a 24-hour road journey from Gujarat, Atiq Ahmed and his brother were brought to the Naini Central Jail in Prayagraj amid heavy security on Monday.

Large crowds were seen outside the local Court in Prayagraj where hearing of the Umesh                  Pal kidnapping case was scheduled.

Atiq Ahmed was brought to the Court amid heavy security.

It may be recalled that in 2005, BSP MLA Raju Pal was murdered and Umesh Pal had approached the Police claiming that he was a witness to the murder.

Umesh Pal had alleged that he was kidnapped at gunpoint in 2006 when he refused to retract his statement to the Police under pressure from Atiq Ahmed.

The Police had registered an FIR against Atiq Ahmed, his brother and four others in this connection.