Lucknow Court Clears MLA Abhay Singh in 2007 Double Murder Case
A special MP/MLA court in Lucknow has delivered a landmark verdict, acquitting four individuals, including sitting MLA Abhay Singh, in a double murder case that dates back 19 years. The ruling, issued by Special Judge Harbans Narayan, also exonerates Ravindra Singh (alias Rajju), Ajay Pratap Singh (alias Ajay Sipahi), and Firoz Ahmad, bringing a long-standing legal battle to a close.
Details of the 2007 Crime
The tragic incident occurred on the night of March 31, 2007, in Lucknow. According to the initial complaint filed by Nardamuni Singh, father of one of the victims, Shatrughan Singh (alias Chhotu), he was at a Hanuman temple near Eidgah around 9 PM when he heard gunshots emanating from his tent house shop. Upon rushing to the scene, he witnessed two assailants firing at his son. As he and a worker attempted to intervene, the attackers allegedly turned their weapons on another individual, Jitendra Tripathi, resulting in both victims being fatally shot. The perpetrators then fled on a motorcycle driven by a third accomplice who was waiting nearby.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
Following the incident, police investigations led to the filing of a chargesheet on August 13, 2008, against Ravindra Singh, Ajay Pratap Singh, and Firoz Ahmad. A separate chargesheet was subsequently filed against Abhay Singh, implicating him under Sections 302 (murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code. However, the defense counsel, Satendra Singh, argued that court records indicated Abhay Singh was incarcerated under the National Security Act at the time of the murders, a point that likely influenced the court's decision to acquit due to insufficient evidence linking him directly to the crime.
Background of Abhay Singh
Abhay Singh is a prominent political figure in Uttar Pradesh. He first entered the political arena as a Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate, securing a victory in the 2012 UP elections by defeating BSP's Indra Pratap Tiwari. However, he lost the seat to Tiwari in the 2017 polls after Tiwari joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Singh made a notable comeback in the 2022 Assembly elections, contesting on an SP ticket and defeating BJP's Aarti Tiwari—the wife of jailed MLA Indra Pratap Tiwari—by a margin of 13,000 votes. His political journey took another turn in June 2025 when he was expelled from the SP, along with two other legislators, for allegedly voting in favor of the BJP during the February 2024 Rajya Sabha elections.
Implications of the Acquittal
The acquittal marks a significant development in this high-profile case, which has spanned nearly two decades. The court's decision underscores the challenges in prosecuting such cases over extended periods, often leading to questions about evidence reliability and witness credibility. For Abhay Singh, this verdict could potentially impact his political career, as he navigates the aftermath of his expulsion from the SP and seeks to rebuild his public image. The case also highlights the broader issues within India's judicial system, including delays in justice delivery and the complexities of legal proceedings involving public figures.
