The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has granted bail to Babu Khan, one of the eight convicts in the 2017 murder of businessman Shravan Sahu, citing parity with a co-accused who had earlier secured bail.
The vacation bench comprising Justice Pankaj Bhatia and Justice Chhitij Shailendra allowed Khan’s bail plea through an order dated June 24, 2025. The plea was filed along with his appeal challenging the life sentence imposed by a special CBI court in August 2024.
The High Court noted that co-accused Ajay Patel was granted bail on April 21, 2025, after the court observed that the prosecution had failed to present prima facie evidence against him in the conspiracy to murder Sahu. Extending the same benefit to Khan, the court allowed his release on bail.
Babu Khan was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined ₹1.10 lakh by a special CBI court, which convicted eight persons in connection with the murder. The case, handled by the Central Bureau of Investigation, drew wide attention due to the violent backstory and prolonged legal proceedings.
The origins of the case date back to October 16, 2013, when Shravan Sahu’s son, Ayush, had a confrontation with main accused Aqeel Ansari at a bar in Hazratganj, Lucknow. The altercation ended in Ayush’s murder at the hands of Aqeel and his associates. Aqeel was later convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for Ayush’s murder.
Determined to secure justice for his son, Shravan Sahu became a key witness in the trial. However, fearing a stronger sentence due to Shravan’s persistent involvement, Aqeel allegedly conspired to eliminate him.
On February 1, 2017, Shravan Sahu was gunned down by two assailants on a motorcycle while sitting at his oil shop in Bada Chauraha, Dalmandi, Lucknow. He was shot multiple times and died later at a trauma centre.
Following the incident, Shravan’s other son, Sunil Sahu, lodged a police complaint naming Aqeel Ansari as the mastermind behind both murders. The case was subsequently transferred to the CBI, which examined 51 witnesses and submitted over 100 documents during the trial.
Babu Khan’s appeal against his conviction remains pending before the High Court.
