Varanasi Court Clears All Six Accused in 2002 Attempted Murder Case of Former MP
In a significant legal development, a Varanasi court on Wednesday acquitted all six individuals accused in the attempted murder case of former Jaunpur MP Dhananjay Singh, dating back to October 2002. The accused include Gosainganj MLA Abhay Singh, MLC Shyam Narayan alias Vineet Singh, Sanjay Singh, Vinod Singh, Sandeep Singh, and Satyendra Singh.
Court Cites Lack of Conclusive Evidence for Acquittal
The court of Special Judge (MP-MLA) Tajuvendra Vikram Singh ordered the acquittal, citing the absence of conclusive evidence linking the accused to the crime. In a detailed 78-page judgment, the judge noted that the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt, leaving no grounds for conviction.
Additional District Government Counsel (Criminal) Vinay Singh explained that the court granted the benefit of doubt to all accused, leading to their acquittal and the release of their bail bonds. The case, which spanned an astonishing 23 years, saw the examination of nine prosecution witnesses and seven defense witnesses.
Political Context and Accusations of Conspiracy
The verdict brought jubilation to Abhay Singh, a two-time MLA from Gosaiganj who was expelled from the Samajwadi Party on June 23, 2025, for anti-party activities. He had voted in favor of the rival BJP during the February 2024 Rajya Sabha elections. Following his acquittal, Abhay claimed that the case filed by Dhananjay Singh was a political conspiracy that has now been foiled.
All accused were present in court for the verdict, while Dhananjay Singh, who had attended previous hearings, was absent on Wednesday. Heavy police deployment was maintained in and around the court premises until Abhay and Vineet departed.
Background of the 2002 Shooting Incident
The incident occurred on October 4, 2002, in the Nadeser area of Varanasi. Dhananjay Singh and his associates were returning to Jaunpur after visiting a hospitalized family member when their SUV was allegedly ambushed near Taksal Cinema Hall.
It was claimed that Abhay Singh and his accomplices opened indiscriminate fire with the intent to kill. In self-defense, Dhananjay's gunner returned fire. A police vehicle arriving at the scene prompted the attackers to flee.
The attack resulted in injuries to Dhananjay Singh, his gunner Vasudev Pandey, driver Dinesh Kumar Gupta, and several others. The sudden outbreak of gunfire also triggered a stampede at the location. All injured parties were admitted to a private hospital in Maldahiya for treatment.
Legal Proceedings and Dominance Struggle
Dhananjay Singh, who was then the MLA from the Rari seat in Jaunpur, filed a named FIR against Abhay Singh and five others at the Cantt police station. After investigation, Cantt police submitted a chargesheet on December 14, 2002, against the six accused.
The case witnessed prolonged legal delays, with hearings halted between 2012 and 2025 due to a High Court order. The shooting incident was widely perceived as stemming from a struggle for dominance between Dhananjay Singh and the Abhay-Vineet faction.
