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Patna, Oct 17 (IANS) A district court in Bihar’s Hajipur on Friday acquitted former MLA Vijay Kumar Shukla, known as Munna Shukla, and former MP Suraj Bhan Singh, who were serving life imprisonment in the high-profile murder case of Bablu Srivastava and three police personnel.
The case, which originated from Patedha village in Vaishali district, involved the murder of notorious gangster and Bhutkun Shukla murder accused Bablu Srivastava – while he was being taken from Hajipur jail to Muzaffarpur court for a court hearing in 1998.
Armed people attacked the police van, due to which Bablu Srivastava died on the spot due to bullet injury.
Three policemen were also martyred in this incident.
Munna Shukla and Surajbhan Singh were accused of alleged involvement in this case, but the court acquitted them due to lack of evidence.
Shukla’s family claimed that he was framed because of his association with his brother and notorious gangster Bhutkun Shukla.
The court’s decision has come amidst increased political activities in Bihar before the upcoming assembly elections.
The two leaders have strong political ties: Munna Shukla’s daughter Shivani Shukla has been fielded by the Rashtriya Janata Dal as its candidate from Lalganj, while Suraj Bhan Singh’s wife Veena Devi will contest from Mokama against veteran leader Anant Singh.
After the court’s verdict, a family member of Shukla said, “The court has delivered justice. Munna Shukla was falsely implicated because of political rivalry and old relationships.”
The acquittal has given a huge boost to both the families as the election campaign has intensified in Bihar.
Munna Shukla and Surajbhan Singh were also convicted in the murder case of Bihar minister Brij Bihari Prasad and are currently serving life imprisonment in the case.
Brij Bihari Prasad was shot dead at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), Patna, on 13 June 1998, allegedly by Uttar Pradesh gangster Shriprakash Shukla.
Prasad was under police protection when Sriprakash Shukla and his associates allegedly carried out the murder.
–IANS
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