Pappu Yadav acquitted in CPI-M leader's murder

Citing lack of evidence, the Patna High Court Friday acquitted former RJD MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav on charges of killing CPI-M leader Ajit Sarkar, a government lawyer said.

A division bench of justices V.N. Singh and K.K. Lal set aside the February 2008 conviction of Yadav and two other accused - Rajan Tiwari and Anil Kumar Yadav - by a lower court.

The judges acquitted them of all charges in connection with the killing of Sarkar nearly 15 years ago

The court also directed the authorities to release Yadav from jail forthwith if he was not wanted in any other case.

Sarkar was killed May 14, 1998 while returning from a meeting of party workers in Purnea district in Bihar.

Police registered a case against Pappu Yadav and four others and filed a chargesheet Aug 19.

The case was taken over by the Central Bureau of Investigation on the request of the Bihar government.