New Delhi : A special court here on Saturday acquitted former Uttar Pradesh legislator Udai Bhan Singh in a 2003 murder case.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge Praveen Singh acquitted Udai Bhan Singh and other accused in the case.
The former legislator was facing trial with five other people — Sandeep Singh, Ashok Mishra, Raj Nath Mishra, Mabud Khan and Vishal Singh — on charges of criminal conspiracy, murder, attempt to murder and intimidation.
The prosecution said Udai Bhan Singh, in collusion with others, entered into a criminal conspiracy to eliminate Rakesh Pandey, a witness in the murder of Vakeel Shukla and two others in Gopiganj, before he could give evidence in court against them.
Pandey was shot dead allegedly by Santosh Singh on February 17, 2003.
Santosh Singh and two other accused — Vinod Kumar Singh and Bashir Khan — died during the trial and another accused, Kallu, was declared a proclaimed offender.
Currently serving a life sentence in the Shukla murder case, Udai Bhan is lodged in Fatehgarh jail in Uttar Pradesh.