On Tuesday, the Supreme Court rejected Atiq Ahmad’s request for protection while being held by the Uttar Pradesh police in connection with the murder of Umesh Pal. Ahmad is a convicted former MP and suspected mobster.
Ahmad said his life was in danger while in the care of the UP police, therefore a panel of Justices Ajay Rastogi and Bela M Trivedi gave him permission to go the Allahabad High Court for protection.
The former Samajwadi Party MP’s lawyer pleaded with the court to note that Ahmad’s life is in danger, but the court refused. While he is in judicial custody, the state of Uttar Pradesh will ensure his safety in the event of a danger to his life, according to the court.
“This court will not become involved in this case. The right to file the proper application with the High Court is granted. All legal requirements for procedure will be observed “said the bench.
According to Ahmad’s attorney, he faces a real threat to his life while in police detention investigating the murder of Umesh Pal.
“There is a significant danger to my life, but I am not afraid of being taken into jail or being questioned by the authorities in this matter,” he stated.
Yet the bench rejected his argument.
The top court was hearing a plea of Ahmad seeking safety and stating that he and his family had been wrongly “roped in” as suspects in the Umesh Pal murder case in Prayagraj.
Umesh Pal, a critical witness in the 2005 homicide of then BSP Lawmaker Raju Pal, and his two security guards were slain in a shooting on February 24.