HC cancels bail of accused: ‘Seems it’s Atiq’s writ, not govt’s, that runs’

Granting him bail, the local court directed “that he would not tamper the evidence, give threat to the witnesses and commit any offence in future”.

He was booked for rioting, murder, criminal conspiracy among others.

In 2019, Krishna Kumar Pal alias Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder of Raju Pal, had moved the High Court, seeking cancellation of Farhan’s bail, alleging threats from him.

Two weeks ago, on February 24, Umesh Pal and his two security guards were killed in broad daylight in Dhoomanganj area of Prayagraj almost akin to the 2005 murder.

Six days after his murder, the High Court cancelled Farhan’s bail, saying “he is a hardened criminal” and was booked in 26 criminal cases since his release on bail in 2005.

“While on bail, the accused-respondent (Farhan) committed three offences under IPC section 302 (murder), three offences under IPC section 364 (kidnapping), two offences under IPC section 307 (attempt to murder), and offence under IPC section 376-D IPC (gangrape), besides offences under the Gangsters Act, Goonda Act, Arms Act and SC/ST Act,” the High Court said.

“Farhan is a hardened criminal who belongs to one of the most dreaded gangs of Uttar Pradesh led by accused, Atiq Ahmad,”the order stated.

“It appears that in the area of Dhomanganj police station, the writ of the state government does not run, rather writ of dreaded criminal, Atiq Ahmed runs,” Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh said in his order.

“Considering these facts, this court finds that the accused-respondent would be a danger to the witnesses and his freedom would be peril to the lives, safety and security of the law-abiding citizens and witnesses,” read the order passed on Thursday.

Taking note of the murder of Umesh Pal, the applicant, the High Court observed: “One star witness in Raju Pal’s case got eliminated in a most gruesome and dare-devil manner allegedly by Atiq Ahmed and his gang members in broad daylight”.

Based on a complaint lodged by Umesh Pal’s wife, police have booked former MP, Atiq Ahmed, his wife Shaistha Parveen, their two sons, brother Ashraf and two more — Ghulam and Guddu Muslim.

While Atiq is currently lodged in a Gujarat jail, his brother Ashraf is in a jail in Bareilly.

Police have so far arrested one person, identified as Sadakat Khan, on charge of conspiracy. Another person was gunned down allegedly in a police encounter. Police said that he had helped in assailants of Umesh Pal to flee from the crime spot.