Dhananjay Singh acquitted in Nishad double murder case

Varanasi: The additional session judge (MP-MLA) court in Jaunpur district on Thursday acquitted muscleman politician and former MP Dhananjay Singh and three co-accused in the 2010 double murder case.

Providing details of the court's judgement to TOI, Dhananjay's advocate, Umesh Chandra Shukla, said additional session judge (MP-MLA) Shariq Siddique delivered the verdict in the murder case of Sanjay Nishad and Nandlal Nishad, acquitting Dhananjay Singh and the other three accused.

The incident took place in Belaw area under Kerakat police station in Jaunpur district on Apr 1, 2010, near Belaw Ghat Barrier over a toll tax dispute. A case was registered against Dhananjay Singh, Ashutosh Singh, Puneet Singh and Sunit Singh, alleging the murder was carried out over rivalry in procuring a contract.

Shukla said three investigation officers investigated the case and filed chargesheet against Dhananjay and the three co-accused. Dhananjay was Bahujan Samaj Party MP when he was arrested from Lucknow. Shukla said in their statements, all four pleaded innocence, while Dhananjay pleaded that he was being falsely implicated due to political enmity.

After over 20 witnesses were examined and statements of all four accused were recovered, the court acquitted them on the basis of merit, said Shukla.