Atiq Ahmed seeks court appearance through video conferencing, appeals against transfer to UP

New Delhi (India), March 26, 2023: Atiq Ahmed, a notorious gangster-turned-politician who is currently incarcerated in Gujarat’s Sabarmati jail, wants to be sentenced via video conference because he fears for his safety, according to sources.

The former MLA from Uttar Pradesh, who is set to be sentenced on March 28th in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case, is concerned that he may be killed while being taken to court in Uttar Pradesh. Ahmed is the main accused in the murder case of BSP legislator Raju Pal and is also accused of killing Umesh Pal, the prime witness in the murder.

The 60-year-old, who has been lodged in Sabarmati jail at the behest of the Supreme Court, is refusing to leave the jail as he fears being killed either in a staged accident or an encounter.

Sources have revealed that the Uttar Pradesh Police team is in talks with the Sabarmati jail authorities to obtain clearance from the Supreme Court to take his custody. Ahmed’s legal team is expected to file a petition in the Allahabad High Court seeking sentence via video conferencing, while his brother Ashraf Ahmed, who is lodged in a jail in Bareilly, will be taken to court.

Ahmed’s fears have been compounded by the recent killing of Vijay Chaudhary, alias Usman—the man who fired the first shot at Umesh Pal—in an encounter with Prayagraj police earlier this month.

The 2005 murder of Umesh Pal, which was captured on video and widely circulated, prompted Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to vow to destroy crime syndicates in the state. Atiq Ahmed, who is accused in more than 100 cases, has a reputation as a fearsome criminal and is known for his political clout.