The Allahabad High Court has granted bail to Abid, a convict in the high-profile 2005 murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal, suspending his prison sentence while his criminal appeal is resolved.
Delay In Appeal Prompts Release
A division bench comprising Justice Siddharth and Justice Vinay Kumar Dwivedi ruled that Abid could remain free on bail pending a final decision on his appeal. The judges noted that the appeal, which has been active since 2024, is highly unlikely to be resolved in the near future.
No Eyewitness Identification Found
In its official order dated May 29, the court highlighted key gaps in the prosecution’s case. The bench noted that when witness testimonies were recorded following the local police’s charge-sheet, none of the alleged eyewitnesses identified Abid as one of the assailants.
Additionally, the court observed that investigators failed to conduct a test identification parade at any point during the inquiry.
Defense Cites Lack Of Direct Evidence
Abid’s legal counsel had argued for his release by pointing out that his name was completely absent from the initial First Information Report (FIR). The defense stated that authorities took action against Abid solely based on statements made by other co-accused individuals in the case.
Furthermore, the defense team emphasized that law enforcement recovered no incriminating materials from Abid’s possession.
Background Of The 2005 Assassination
The underlying case dates back to January 25, 2005, when Raju Pal, an MLA from Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, was shot dead. The killing was the culmination of a political rivalry with Ashraf, the brother of Atiq Ahmad. Pal had previously defeated Ashraf in a 2004 assembly by-election to win the Prayagraj West legislative seat.
