Lucknow: In a two-decade-old case, the MP-MLA court in Lucknow on Saturday acquitted former MLC Brijesh Singh and four others in connection with the 2004 firing incident involving slain-mafia don Mukhtar Ansari and former BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai.The case relates to exchange of fire that took place on Jan 13, 2004, near the Sadar railway crossing under the Cantt police station in Lucknow when then gangster turned politician Mukhtar Ansari claimed to have been allegedly attacked by Krishnanand Rai while travelling through the area. However, nobody was injured in the attack. The chargesheet in the case was filed on Nov 20, 2014.According to case records, Mukhtar Ansari filed an FIR accusing Krishnanand Rai, Brijesh Singh and others of attempt to murder, rioting and related offences. A counter FIR was also registered by Krishnanand Rai against Ansari and his associates.Special public posecutor, National Investigation Agency, MK Singh said that after prolonged trial proceedings, arguments in the case were recently concluded before the MP-MLA court in Lucknow.“Delivering its verdict, the court of ADJ/MP MLA, Harbans Narain, granted the benefit of doubt to all accused and acquitted Brijesh Singh, Tribhuvan Singh, Ajay Singh alias Guddu, Sunil Rai and Anand Rai due to lack of sufficient evidence,” said Singh.Brijesh Singh was present in court at the time of pronouncement of the judgment.
