PRAYAGRAJ: Khan Saulat Hanif (61), the Prayagraj-based lawyer of Atiq Ahmed, who appeared on his behalf in different courts, was himself awarded rigorous life term along with the jailed gangster-politician in Umesh Pal abduction case on Tuesday.
“Khan’s complicity is proved beyond doubt in this abduction case, as it stands proven that he was already present in Chakia office of Atiq and had a paper in his hand, where a favourable statement was written. This paper was taken by Atiq from his hand, asking Umesh Pal to make the same statement before the court, which is written here. It also proves that Hanif had prior information of the entire plan,” said special judge, MP/MLA court Dinesh Chandra Shukla, while recording his finding in the 142 page verdict pronounced in physical presence of accused – Atiq, Hanif and other accused in this case.
Atiq, his brother Ashraf, Dinesh Pasi and others are accused in 2005 BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case. Umesh Pal was a witness in this case. It is alleged that Umesh Pal was abducted and was compelled to retract his statement.
On Tuesday, Saulat Hanif was also sent to jail after the court found that he went a step ahead and became a part of the crime.
This Prayagraj-based lawyer practicing at Allahabad district courts, had represented Atiq before various courts – sessions court, high court and Supreme Court- in a host of cases.
He used to engage senior lawyers according to the situations, but he supervised the defence side in all the cases.
He was associated with Atiq since the very beginning and saved him from being sentenced for around three decades.
Sources say that as many as 187 cases were registered against Atiq but now around 100 cases are pending in various courts.
In the Umesh Pal kidnapping case, the court after examining witnesses and statement of Umesh Pal, who himself is a complainant in this case, recorded its finding, saying that he (Khan Saulat Hanif) crossed the line and became a part of the crime, as his meeting of mind with Atiq is proved in this case beyond doubt. Hanif has been found guilty of being involved in forcing Umesh Pal to give a signed statement that was in favour of those named accused in the BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case. He has two criminal cases pending against him.
Recently, after the murder of Umesh Pal on February 24 last, Hanif went to Supreme Court and filed a case through another lawyer there, requesting the apex court to stop Atiq from being shifted to Prayagraj, apprehending danger to his life.
However, the apex court on Tuesday rejected the same petition.
Besides, identified as an associate of Atiq, former corporator Dinesh Pasi first hit the headlines when he was arrested for the murder of Raju Pal in 2005. Earlier, he was a corporator from the Cantonment Board before 2000. Dinesh’s house was situated at a stone’s throw distance from the spot where Raju Pal was shot dead. At present, as many as six criminal cases are pending against him.
“Khan’s complicity is proved beyond doubt in this abduction case, as it stands proven that he was already present in Chakia office of Atiq and had a paper in his hand, where a favourable statement was written. This paper was taken by Atiq from his hand, asking Umesh Pal to make the same statement before the court, which is written here. It also proves that Hanif had prior information of the entire plan,” said special judge, MP/MLA court Dinesh Chandra Shukla, while recording his finding in the 142 page verdict pronounced in physical presence of accused – Atiq, Hanif and other accused in this case.
Atiq, his brother Ashraf, Dinesh Pasi and others are accused in 2005 BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case. Umesh Pal was a witness in this case. It is alleged that Umesh Pal was abducted and was compelled to retract his statement.
On Tuesday, Saulat Hanif was also sent to jail after the court found that he went a step ahead and became a part of the crime.
This Prayagraj-based lawyer practicing at Allahabad district courts, had represented Atiq before various courts – sessions court, high court and Supreme Court- in a host of cases.
He used to engage senior lawyers according to the situations, but he supervised the defence side in all the cases.
He was associated with Atiq since the very beginning and saved him from being sentenced for around three decades.
Sources say that as many as 187 cases were registered against Atiq but now around 100 cases are pending in various courts.
In the Umesh Pal kidnapping case, the court after examining witnesses and statement of Umesh Pal, who himself is a complainant in this case, recorded its finding, saying that he (Khan Saulat Hanif) crossed the line and became a part of the crime, as his meeting of mind with Atiq is proved in this case beyond doubt. Hanif has been found guilty of being involved in forcing Umesh Pal to give a signed statement that was in favour of those named accused in the BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case. He has two criminal cases pending against him.
Recently, after the murder of Umesh Pal on February 24 last, Hanif went to Supreme Court and filed a case through another lawyer there, requesting the apex court to stop Atiq from being shifted to Prayagraj, apprehending danger to his life.
However, the apex court on Tuesday rejected the same petition.
Besides, identified as an associate of Atiq, former corporator Dinesh Pasi first hit the headlines when he was arrested for the murder of Raju Pal in 2005. Earlier, he was a corporator from the Cantonment Board before 2000. Dinesh’s house was situated at a stone’s throw distance from the spot where Raju Pal was shot dead. At present, as many as six criminal cases are pending against him.