Ex-BJP MLA convicted of SP leader’s murder

Apart from Uday Bhan, who is husband of BJP’s Meja legislator Neelam Karwariya, his brothers – former BSP MP Kapil Muni Karwariya and former BSP MLC Suraj Bhan – and their uncle Ram Chandra were also held guilty in the case. All four are presently lodged in Naini jail of Allahabad.

“On Thursday, Additional District and Sessions Judge Badri Vishal Pandey held Uday Bhan, Kapil Muni, Suraj Bhan and Ram Chandra guilty on various charges, including rioting, murder and attempt to murder. The court will pronounce the judgment on November 4,” said government counsel Gulab Chand Agrihari.

All four persons were brought to the court on Thursday from the Naini jail, he added.

“In all, 18 prosecution and 156 defence witnesses were examined by the court. The court had earlier rejected the state government’s plea to withdraw the case,” Agrihari further said.

According prosecution, Jawahar’s driver Gulab Yadav and a passerby, Kamal Kumar Dixit, were also killed in the shootout on August 13, 1996. An AK-47 rifle was used in the shootout.

Two other persons, identified as Pankaj Kumar Srivastav and Kallan Yadav, were injured in the attack.

Police had booked five persons – Uday Bhan, Kapil Muni, Suraj Bhan, Shyam Narain and Ram Chandra – in the case.

“Shyam Narain died during trial of the case,” said Agrihari.

Police said that the murder was a fallout of political as well as business rivalry.