New Delhi, September 27: A CBI court here has reserved order on framing of charges against former Uttar Pradesh MLA Uday Bhan Singh and five others, accused of killing an eye-witness of a triple murder in Varanasi in which they are allegedly involved.
Special CBI judge O P Saini, after hearing arguments advanced on behalf of the probe agency and the accused, posted the matter for framing of charges to October 8.
The CBI counsel, earlier, submitted that there was sufficient “prima facie” evidence to frame murder charge against the accused.
Initially, former Samajwadi Party MLA and eight others were arraigned as accused for killing Rakesh Pandey, a witness in a triple murder case against them, on February 17, 2003 at Gopiganj police station at Sant Ravidas Nagar district near Varanasi.
However, two accused, Vinod Kumar Singh and Bashir Khan, died and third accomplice Santosh was declared a proclaimed offender after he went absconding.
The case was transferred to the national capital from UP by the Supreme Court on March 28, 2008, on the ground that fair trial was not possible against the accused leader.
While shifting the trial, the apex court considered the fact that the former MLA allegedly killed a person who was to depose against him in the murder case.
—PTI