Why Did the Bihar Court Acquit Munna Shukla and Suraj Bhan Singh in the Bablu Srivastava Murder Case?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Munna Shukla and Suraj Bhan Singh were acquitted due to lack of evidence.
- The ruling comes during a politically charged atmosphere in Bihar.
- Both politicians have strong ties to current electoral candidates.
- The case highlights the intersection of crime and politics in Bihar.
- Shukla's family claims he was framed due to political rivalries.
Patna, Oct 17 (NationPress) In a significant ruling, a district court in Hajipur, Bihar, has found former MLA Vijay Kumar Shukla, known as Munna Shukla, and former MP Suraj Bhan Singh not guilty in the notorious murder case of Bablu Srivastava and three police officers, after they had been serving life sentences.
The case dates back to 1998 in Patedha village, Vaishali district, where Bablu Srivastava, a known gangster linked to the Bhutkun Shukla murder case, was killed while being transported from Hajipur jail to a court hearing. The police vehicle was ambushed by armed assailants, resulting in Bablu's immediate death and the loss of three policemen's lives.
Although Munna Shukla and Suraj Bhan Singh faced accusations of involvement, the court acquitted them due to insufficient evidence. Shukla's family contends that he was wrongly accused due to political affiliations with his brother, the infamous gangster Bhutkun Shukla.
This verdict arrives amidst a surge of political activity in Bihar as the state prepares for upcoming Assembly elections. Both Munna Shukla and Suraj Bhan Singh have entrenched political connections: Shivani Shukla, Munna's daughter, is a candidate for the Rashtriya Janata Dal from Lalganj, while Veena Devi, Suraj Bhan Singh's wife, will contest from Mokama against prominent leader Anant Singh.
A family member of Shukla expressed, 'This ruling has delivered justice. Munna Shukla was falsely implicated due to political rivalries and past associations.'
The acquittal serves as a substantial advantage for both families as election campaigns gain momentum across Bihar.
It is noteworthy that both figures were also convicted in the murder case of Bihar Minister Brij Bihari Prasad and are currently serving life sentences for that offense. Prasad was assassinated allegedly by Uttar Pradesh gangster Sri Prakash Shukla at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science in Patna on June 13, 1998, while under police protection.