Sarkar murder case: SC notice to Pappu Yadav on CBI plea

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today issued notice to former RJD MP Pappu Yadav on an appeal filed by CBI challenging his acquittal in CPI(M) leader Ajit Sarkar murder case.

A bench of justice B S Chauhan and S A Bobde granted four weeks time to Rajiv Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav to file his response on the agency's petition.

Senior advocate Mukul Gupta, appearing for CBI, contended that the Patna High Court had erred in acquitting Yadav in the murder case by disregarding statements of many key witnesses and the call records.

Yadav was accused of murdering CPI(M) MLC and trade union leader Ajit Sarkar on June 14, 1998. The case was probed by CBI. Sarkar was shot dead by unidentified persons in Bihar's Purnia district.

The high court had on May 17, this year acquitted Pappu Yadav and two other accused - Rajan Tiwari and Anil Kumar Yadav - of all charges in connection with the killing of Sarkar for want of evidence.

It had set aside the conviction and life imprisonment awarded to the controversial leader by a lower court in 2008.

The court had also directed the authorities to release Yadav from jail if he was not wanted in any other case.

Yadav, a four-time MP, had won elections to Lok Sabha in 1991, 1996, 1999, and 2004 but was debarred from contesting 2009 general elections due to his conviction in the case.

The politician had been in news for various misdemeanours during his stints in Beur and Tihar jails including holding a 'durbar' of a large number unauthorised visitors in November, 2004 and illegally using cell phone.