Zainab Fatima, the sister-in-law of slain gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad, has approached the Allahabad High Court challenging a lower court’s order issuing a non-bailable warrant (NBW) and attachment of property against her in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case.
Fatima, the wife of Atiq Ahmad’s younger brother Ashraf Ahmad—who was also killed along with Atiq in April 2023—sought relief against the order passed by the Special Judge (SC/ST Act), Prayagraj. The court had issued NBWs and directed attachment proceedings under Sections 82 and 83 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) due to the non-appearance of the accused, including Fatima, Atiq Ahmad’s wife Shaishta Parveen, alleged shooter Guddu Muslim, and three others.
Under Section 82 CrPC, a court may issue a proclamation against an absconding accused, while Section 83 empowers it to attach the person’s properties to compel appearance.
The matter was listed before Justice Rajiv Mishra at the Allahabad High Court but could not be taken up on Friday.
Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf were shot dead in April 2023 by three assailants while in police custody for a medical check-up, an incident that shocked the nation as it was captured live on television.
