Khan Shoulat Hanif, the lawyer for gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad, has been detained for criminal conspiracy in the murder of Umesh Pal, news agency PTI reported citing an official on Saturday. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (City) Deepak Bhukar, Hanif's name was added to the FIR in the murder of Umesh Pal at the Dhoomanganj police station under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.
Days prior to the attack, Asad, Ahmad's son, received pictures of Umesh Pal from Hanif, Bhukar told PTI.
The third of Ahmad's five sons, Asad, was killed by police on April 13 in Jhansi.
The police may soon ask the court for Hanif's remand so they can question him. Hanif is currently being held in Naini Central Prison after being given a life sentence in connection with the kidnapping of Umesh Pal, PTI reported citing sources.
On February 24, gunfire killed Umesh Pal and his two security guards, who were both important witnesses in the murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal.
At the Dhoomanganj police station on February 25, the police filed a case against Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, his wife Shaista Parveen, two sons, helpers Guddu Muslim and Ghulam, and nine other accomplices.
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On March 28, a Prayagraj special court found Ahmad, Hanif, and Dinesh Pasi guilty of the 17-year-old kidnapping case and sentenced them to life in prison.
Ahmad was transferred to Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, while Hanif and Pasi were held in Naini Central Prison.
Three assailants shot and killed Ahmad, a former Samajwadi Party MP, and Ashraf as they were being taken by police for a medical examination on April 15. They were brought over in relation to the murder of Umesh Pal.
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