Gangster-Politician Atiq Ahmed Fears For Life, Refuses To Leave Jail

Gangster-turned politician Atiq Ahmed will seek sentencing by video conference in a kidnapping  case, as he is fears for his life, sources have said.  Atiq Ahmed -- a former MLA from Uttar Pradesh currently in Gujarat's Sabarmati jail, fears he will be killed -- either by a staged accident or an encounter -- while being taken to the court in Uttar Pradesh sources said.

Another man allegedly involved in the murder case was shot in an encounter earlier this month. Atiq Ahmed's sentencing in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case is due on March 28.

Sources said Atiq Ahmed's lawyer will file a petition in the Allahabad high court seeking sentence through video conferencing. Atiq Ahmed's brother Ashraf Ahmed, who is lodged in a jail in Bareilly, will to be taken to court.  

Atiq Ahmed is the main accused in the murder case of BSP legislator Raju Pal, which took place in 2005. He is also accused of killing Umesh Pal, the prime witness in the murder.

Umesh Pal was abducted in 2005 and later released. On the last day of hearing in the kidnapping case, February 24, he was killed. A video of the daylight murder was widely circulated, pushing Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to say that he would destroy crime syndicates in the state.

On March 14, Vijay Chaudhary alias Usman, the man who fired the first shot at Umesh Pal, was gunned down in an encounter with Prayagraj police.

Sources said Atiq Ahmed's legal team was under the impression that the sentencing was to happen by video conferencing and they have just been informed otherwise. He would be taken to Prayagraj by road, in a police van.

Sources in Atiq Ahmed's legal team said the process of preparing the production warrant was done in a very secretive manner.

Atiq Ahmed is now refusing to come out of jail, though the Uttar Pradesh Police team is there to take him into custody. Sources said the team is in talks with the Sabarmati jail authorities, who have told them that need a clearance from the Supreme Court to take custody of Atiq Ahmed. The 60-year-old has been lodged there at the behest of the top court, sources said.

Sources said Atiq Ahmed's lawyer will file an application in the Allahabad High Court shortly asking that like the hearing, the court's decision also be pronounced through video conferencing.