Prabhunath acquitted in murder case

A Patna fast-track court on Friday acquitted JDU MP Prabhunath Singh in a 1995 murder case. The MP and six others were accused of killing one Daroga Roy near booth number 31 at Baniapur, Maharajganj on 24 April, 1995, during Assembly election polling. Roy8217;s brother Rajendra Roy, who was grievously injured in the incident, died six months later.

Delivering the verdict, fast-track court-III judge Manmohan Choudhary said the evidence given by the deceased8217;s mother Lalmuni Devi, who also was a witness, and the dying declaration by Rajendra Roy were not conclusive and hence the seven people named in the case were being given the benefit of doubt.

The JD U MP and six others were present at the court during pronouncement of the verdict. Special public prosecutor Rakesh Kumar said only the full text of the judgment would reveal the basis on which the court gave benefit of doubt to the all seven accused.

A relieved MP reinstated his faith in the judicial system.

The case had come into limelight after it was first transferred from Maharajganj to Bhagalpur and later to Patna. Lalmuni Devi had also accused the MP of threatening her with dire consequences. Several witnesses in the case had turned hostile.