The court also awarded life sentence to two other accused, including Vijai Sen, the driver of the former minister and Seema Azad, who helped in the conspiracy to ensure the disappearance of the victim Shashi Prasad, a Dalit.
Anand, who was dropped by Chief Minister Mayawati after the incident, has been awarded life sentences on charges of murder and torture.
The court relied on the circumstantial evidence in the absence of the body and also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 each on Anand and Vijai and Rs 10,000 on Semma.
A student of law at Saket Degree College in Faizabad, Shashi was killed on the orders of Anand, who was then the minister for food and civil supplies, by his driver.
(Published 17 May 2011, 11:46 IST)
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