A local court in Prayagraj on Thursday remanded gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf to seven-day police custody for their alleged involvement in the murder case of Advocate Umesh Pal.
The Uttar Pradesh Police had sought 14-day remand of the gangster and his brother. The state police had claimed that it had enough evidence to prove Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf as conspirators in the murder case of Umesh Pal.
However, Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Dinesh Gautam granted the police seven-day remand of the accused.
Appearing for Atiq Ahmed, Advocate Nisar Ahmad argued against the police remand, citing his client’s health, and requested a maximum of three days of police custody.
He questioned the police remand of Atiq, when he was already in a high-profile jail. The lawyer further questioned the need for interrogation, saying that he would oppose the remand in court.
Heavy security measures were taken outside the court during the hearing as lawyers created a ruckus on the premises of the CJM Court.
Expressing solidarity with deceased lawyer Umesh Pal, the advocates hurled abuses at Atiq by taking his name.
They further staged a protest outside the CJM court, demanding implementation of the Advocates Protection Act.
While Atiq was brought to Prayagraj via road from Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat for his production, his brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf was brought to Prayagraj from a Bareilly jail.
Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal, along with his two police security guards, were shot dead outside his home in Dhoomanganj area of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh on February 24 this year.
Meanwhile, Atiq’s son Asad Ahmad and his accomplice Ghulam were killed during an encounter with the UPSTF in Jhansi.
They were also accused in the Umesh Pal murder case.
The Uttar Pradesh Police said both were carrying a reward of Rs five lakh each.
Following the encounter of his son Asad by UP police in Jhansi, Atiq Ahmad broke down in the CJM court at Prayagraj.