In a major development in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case, gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, along with two others, has been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. The MP-MLA court in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj announced its verdict on Monday, April 3, after a long and arduous legal battle that lasted over 17 years.
The court found Ahmed, Dinesh Pasi, and Khan Saulat Hanif guilty of kidnapping Umesh Pal, a witness in the BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on each of the three convicts. This is the first conviction for Ahmed, who is currently serving time in Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat in connection with various other criminal cases.
However, seven others, including Ahmed’s brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf, were acquitted in the case due to lack of evidence. The verdict has come as a major setback for Ahmed, who had been hoping to be acquitted in the case.
Ahead of the court hearing on Monday, Ahmed was shifted from Sabarmati Jail to the Naini Central Jail in Prayagraj amid tight security arrangements. He had filed a plea in the Supreme Court seeking protection during his custody with Uttar Pradesh police in the Umesh Pal murder case, claiming that there was a genuine and perceptible threat to his and his family members’ lives. However, the apex court dismissed his plea.
The Umesh Pal kidnapping case dates back to February 28, 2006, when Umesh Pal, then a zila panchayat member, was kidnapped at gunpoint from his home in Prayagraj. Pal had earlier told the police that he was a witness to the murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal, who was killed on January 25, 2005.
According to Pal’s statement, he was kidnapped by Ahmed and his associates after he refused to retract his statement and buckle under pressure. The FIR in the case was registered on July 5, 2007, against Ahmed, his brother Ashraf, and four unidentified people.
However, the case took a dramatic turn when Umesh Pal was gunned down outside his home in Prayagraj on February 24, 2007. Ahmed and his brother Ashraf stand accused of being involved in a conspiracy to kill Umesh Pal, while they were both in prison.
Ahmed, a former Samajwadi Party MP from Phulpur, is named in more than 100 criminal cases, including murder, kidnapping, extortion, and land grabbing. He has been in and out of jail for over two decades and has been accused of running a criminal empire from behind bars.
The conviction in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case is seen as a major blow to Ahmed’s political ambitions, as he had been hoping to contest the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. He had even launched his own political party, the Apna Dal (Qaumi), in March 2021, in a bid to revive his political career.
However, the verdict has been welcomed by the families of Umesh Pal and Raju Pal, who had been seeking justice for their loved ones for over 17 years. They hope that the conviction will send a strong message to other criminals and politicians who think they are above the law.
The verdict in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case has also raised questions about the role of politicians with criminal backgrounds in Indian politics. Many have called for stricter laws to prevent criminals from entering politics and using their power and influence to evade justice.
The Umesh Pal kidnapping case is just one of many examples of the nexus between criminals and politicians in India. The country has a long history of politicians with criminal backgrounds holding public office, As for the other accused who were acquitted in the case, their release has brought some relief to their families who had been eagerly waiting for this moment. However, the families of the victim, Umesh Pal, and the witnesses have expressed their dissatisfaction with the verdict.
The lawyer representing the victim’s family, Mr. Yadvendra Singh, has stated that they will appeal against the acquittal of the seven accused in a higher court. Mr. Singh stated that there was enough evidence against the acquitted accused, and they should have been convicted.
The case has been a long and arduous one, with several twists and turns. The conviction of Atiq Ahmed and two others is being seen as a major victory for the prosecution. However, it is also being seen as a small victory for justice in a state where the nexus between politicians and criminals is rampant.
Atiq Ahmed has been in jail for several years, and he has been named in several cases, including the murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal. The conviction in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case is the first in the long list of cases against him.
The Supreme Court’s dismissal of Atiq Ahmed’s plea seeking protection during his custody has also come as a relief to the prosecution. It shows that the judiciary is not willing to give any concessions to those who have committed heinous crimes.
The conviction of Atiq Ahmed and others in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case is a reminder that no one is above the law, no matter how powerful or influential they may be. It also shows that justice can be delayed, but it cannot be denied.
The verdict has been welcomed by several people, including politicians and civil society members. It is being seen as a step in the right direction toward ending the criminal-politician nexus that has plagued the state for decades.
However, there are concerns that the conviction of Atiq Ahmed and others may not lead to any significant change. The fact that he has been in jail for several years, and yet he continues to wield considerable influence in the state, is a cause for concern.
The state government must take steps to ensure that those convicted in such cases do not continue to wield power and influence from behind bars. They must be stripped of all privileges and treated like any other convict.
The conviction in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case is a small step towards ensuring justice for the victims of such crimes. However, a lot more needs to be done to break the nexus between criminals and politicians.
Conclusion
The conviction of Atiq Ahmed and two others in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case is being seen as a major victory for justice. It is also being seen as a small victory in the fight against the criminal-politician nexus that has plagued the state for decades.
The verdict has been welcomed by several people, including politicians and civil society members. However, there are concerns that the conviction may not lead to any significant change.
The state government must take steps to ensure that those convicted in such cases do not continue to wield power and influence from behind bars. They must be stripped of all privileges and treated like any other convict.
The conviction in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case is a small step towards ensuring justice for the victims of such crimes. However, a lot more needs to be done to break the nexus between criminals and politicians.
Who is Atiq Ahmed?
Atiq Ahmed is a notorious gangster and former politician from Uttar Pradesh, India. He has been involved in over 100 criminal cases since 1985, with 50 cases still under trial. Ahmed has served as a legislator five times, representing different parties over the years, including the Samajwadi Party, Apna Dal, and as an independent candidate.
In the current case, Ahmed has been found guilty by the MP-MLA court of Prayagraj in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case. Umesh Pal, a real estate businessman, was allegedly kidnapped by Ahmed and his associates in December 2021, and was later rescued by the police. Ahmed’s conviction in this case is one of many legal battles he is currently facing.
What is Atiq Ahmed’s criminal background?
Atiq Ahmed has as many as 100 cases registered in his name from as long as 1985. While 50 cases are under trial, in 12 others, he has got acquittal, while in two others, the then Samajwadi Party government had withdrawn the cases in 2004. Atiq’s brother has 53 cases in his name; of which, he has been acquitted in one while others are under trial. Atiq’s sons have eight cases against them; seven of them are under trial while one is still being probed by the police. Atiq’s wife Shaista has four cases.
What is Atiq Ahmed’s political background?
Atiq Ahmed is a five-time legislator who was elected as MP from Phulpur in 2004. He was with the Samajwadi Party at the time. He became active in politics in 1989 and won the Allahabad West assembly seat as an Independent. He retained the Allahabad West seat twice — 1991 and 1993 — as an Independent candidate. In 1996, he contested on the same seat as an SP candidate and won. After the SP showed him the door in 1998, he joined the Apna Dal (AD) in 1999 and contested from Pratapgrah but lost. Atiq again won the Allahabad west seat in 2002 assembly elections on AD ticket. In 2003, Atiq returned to the SP fold and in 2004, won from the Phulpur Lok Sabha constituency.
Why was Atiq Ahmed shifted to UP jail from Sabarmati jail in Gujarat?
Atiq Ahmed was shifted to UP jail from Sabarmati jail in Gujarat because he was accused of orchestrating the kidnapping and assault on real estate businessman Mohit Jaiswal while in prison in UP. The Supreme Court had ordered that he be shifted to Sabarmati jail in June 2019, but he was brought back to UP to face trial in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case.
Atiq Ahmed was shifted to Naini jail in Prayagraj from Sabarmati jail in Gujarat to stand trial in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case. He was produced in the MP-MLA court in Prayagraj on Tuesday and was pronounced guilty in the case.
What is Atiq Ahmed’s role in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case?
Atiq Ahmed was recently pronounced guilty in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case by an MP-MLA court in Prayagraj. Pal, who was a businessman, was kidnapped in 2002 and held for a ransom of Rs. 1 crore. Atiq Ahmed was one of the accused in the case, and was found guilty by the court along with three others.
How many cases are registered against Atiq Ahmed and his family?
Atiq Ahmed has 100 cases registered against him, while his brother has 53 cases registered against him. Atiq’s wife and sons also have cases registered against them.
Jail journey: From Gujarat to UP
On Monday, a notorious gangster and former MP Atiq Ahmed was brought to Naini jail in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj from Sabarmati jail in Gujarat, covering over 1,300 kilometers by road in around 24 hours. Atiq had been lodged in the Sabarmati central jail since June 2019 after being accused of orchestrating the kidnapping and assault on real estate businessman Mohit Jaiswal while in prison in UP. Atiq was shifted to Sabarmati jail following a Supreme Court order. The gangster was produced in the MP-MLA court of Prayagraj on Tuesday, where he was pronounced guilty in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case.
Atiq Ahmed has as many as 100 cases registered against him, with 50 under trial, 12 resulting in acquittal, and the then Samajwadi Party government withdrawing two cases in 2004. Atiq’s brother has 53 cases in his name, with only one acquittal. Atiq’s sons have eight cases against them, with seven under trial and one still being probed by the police. Atiq’s wife Shaista has four cases registered against her.
Atiq Ahmed was a five-time legislator who started his political career in 1989, winning the Allahabad West assembly seat as an Independent. He went on to win the seat twice more in 1991 and 1993. He then contested on the same seat as an SP candidate in 1996 and won. After being ousted from the SP in 1998, he joined Apna Dal in 1999 and contested from Pratapgrah but lost. He won the Allahabad West seat again in 2002 assembly elections on AD ticket. In 2003, he returned to the SP fold and won from the Phulpur Lok Sabha constituency in 2004. In January 2005, BSP MLA Raju Pal was shot dead, and Atiq was accused in the murder case. Five years later, Atiq tried his luck in the 2012 assembly elections from Apna Dal but lost to BSP’s Pooja Pal by a margin of 8,885 votes. He contested the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 from Shravasti on SP ticket but lost. From jail, Atiq filed a nomination from the Varanasi constituency against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 but managed to get only 855 votes. In January 2023, Atiq’s wife Shaista joined the BSP in the presence of senior party leaders and even announced her intention to contest urban civic polls.
