<p>Former Lok Sabha member and mafia don turned politician Dhananjay Singh was on Wednesday sentenced to seven years imprisonment by an MP/MLA court in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur district, in a case of kidnapping lodged against him about four years back.</p><p>The court, which had reserved its order in the matter a couple of days back, also slapped a fine of Rs 75,000 on Singh.</p><p>The former MP claimed that he was innocent and said that he would approach the higher court to challenge the order.</p>.JD(U) leader Dhananjay Singh, supporters booked for holding rally violating prohibitory orders.<p>Singh, considered to be a muscleman, had been charged with kidnapping the manager of the Namami Ganga Project Abhinav Singhal in May 2020 and threatening him after he allegedly refused to pay 'rangadari' (protection money) to the former MP.</p><p>The prosecution said that Singh and his associates tried to force the Project Manager fo pay the protection money and after he refused asked him to give them orders for supply of sub-standard material. </p><p>Singh was bundled into a vehicle by Singh and his goons after he refused to do their bidding and was taken to a secluded place where he was threatened with dire consequences if he did not do as directed.</p><p>Singhal, who was freed later, lodged a report with the police after which Singh and some of his goons were arrested. He was later enlarged on bail.</p><p>Dhananjay Singh, who faces several criminal cases, wields considerable influence in the Jaunpur LS constituency and is also a contender for ticket to contest from there again in the forthcoming general elections.</p><p>Singh, in a message on social media, hinted at taking a plunge in the electoral battle soon after the BJP declared former Maharashtra Congress leader Kripa Shankar Singh as its candidate from Jaunpur LS seat. Janupur is Kripa Shankar Singh's home district. </p>
<p>Former Lok Sabha member and mafia don turned politician Dhananjay Singh was on Wednesday sentenced to seven years imprisonment by an MP/MLA court in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur district, in a case of kidnapping lodged against him about four years back.</p><p>The court, which had reserved its order in the matter a couple of days back, also slapped a fine of Rs 75,000 on Singh.</p><p>The former MP claimed that he was innocent and said that he would approach the higher court to challenge the order.</p>.JD(U) leader Dhananjay Singh, supporters booked for holding rally violating prohibitory orders.<p>Singh, considered to be a muscleman, had been charged with kidnapping the manager of the Namami Ganga Project Abhinav Singhal in May 2020 and threatening him after he allegedly refused to pay 'rangadari' (protection money) to the former MP.</p><p>The prosecution said that Singh and his associates tried to force the Project Manager fo pay the protection money and after he refused asked him to give them orders for supply of sub-standard material. </p><p>Singh was bundled into a vehicle by Singh and his goons after he refused to do their bidding and was taken to a secluded place where he was threatened with dire consequences if he did not do as directed.</p><p>Singhal, who was freed later, lodged a report with the police after which Singh and some of his goons were arrested. He was later enlarged on bail.</p><p>Dhananjay Singh, who faces several criminal cases, wields considerable influence in the Jaunpur LS constituency and is also a contender for ticket to contest from there again in the forthcoming general elections.</p><p>Singh, in a message on social media, hinted at taking a plunge in the electoral battle soon after the BJP declared former Maharashtra Congress leader Kripa Shankar Singh as its candidate from Jaunpur LS seat. Janupur is Kripa Shankar Singh's home district. </p>