EXPLAINED: Why is Atiq Ahmed in Prayagraj Court? What is Umesh Pal Kidnapping case?

Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his younger brother Ashraf Ahmed were produced Tuesday before a special court in Prayagraj. An MP/MLA court held Atiq guilty in the 2007 Umesh Pal kidnapping case. All the other seven accused, including Ashraf, have been acquitted.

In a highly televised event, Ahmed was transferred to Naini jail in the Prayagraj from Sabarmati Central Jail in Gujarat amid concerns about potential encounter during the 1,200 km journey. At the same time, Ashraf was brought from Bareilly Central Jail.

Atiq Ahmed, former MP and five-term MLA, has been facing as many as 100 criminal cases, including murder, extortion, and kidnapping. 

His recent transfer back to UP has once again brought the spotlight on his criminal history and political influence in Uttar Pradesh. Here’s everything to know about Atiq Ahmed and his political and criminal past. 

Who is Atiq Ahmed?

Once an unchallenged ‘bahubali’ of Uttar Pradesh, Atiq Ahmed (62) has a long history of violence and crime. His first step into the crime world was in 1979 with a murder case.  

He began his political career as an independent MLA from Allahabad West in 1989 and subsequently won the seat in the next two legislative Assembly elections.  

Ahmed then joined the Samajwadi Party (SP) and won his fourth term as an MLA in 1996. He later became part of Apna Dal and won the seat in 2002 before returning to the SP and winning the Lok Sabha seat from Phulpur in 2004.

Throughout his political career, Ahmed faced numerous criminal charges, including murder, extortion, and kidnapping. 

Crime History of Ahmed Family

The Ahmed family has a long history of criminal activities with several members involved in multiple criminal cases. 

Atiq himself has as many as 100 cases lodged against him. Although he has been acquitted in 12 cases, 50 cases are still under trial. The most recent accusation is his alleged involvement in the murder of lawyer Umesh Pal on 24 February.

Atiq’s younger brother, Ashraf, has 52 cases registered against him.

Atiq’s wife, Shaista Praveen, has three cases against her while his sons, Ali and Umar Ahmad, also have four and one cases respectively. 

UP Police has announced Rs 5 lakhs reward against Atiq’s son Asad in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case, reports India Today

The total number of criminal cases lodged against family members of Atiq Ahmed is more than 160.

MLA Raju Pal Murder

Atiq Ahmed was accused of being involved in the murder of Bahujan Samaj Party MLA Raju Pal in Allahabad in 2005.

The enmity between Atiq Ahmed and Raju Pal goes back to the 2002 Assembly election when Ahmed defeated Pal from Allahabad West. Atiq then resigned from the Allahabad West seat after winning the Lok Sabha election from Phulpur in 2004. 

In the subsequent by-election from Allahabad West, held in November 2004, Raju Pal defeated Atiq’s younger brother Ashraf. The loss was considered significant for the Ahmed family.

However, Pal was later gunned down in broad daylight while he was on his way to participate in Republic Day celebrations. 

His wife, Puja Pal, lodged an FIR against Atiq Ahmed, Ashraf, and seven unidentified individuals on charges of murder of her husband.

In the by-election that followed Raju’s death in Allahabad West in 2005, Ashraf defeated Pal’s wife. 

However, in the 2007 Assembly elections, Puja Pal defeated Ashraf in the same constituency. You can read the detailed timeline of the case here.

The rivalry between the two political factions has been marked by numerous violent incidents, including shootouts and clashes between their supporters. 

Political Decline of Atiq Ahmed

Atiq’s political career took a downward turn after Raju Pal’s murder. 

Due to political and police pressure, Atiq surrendered himself in 2008 but was released in 2012. 

Atiq Ahmed contested the 2012 Assembly elections from Allahabad West under Apna Dal’s banner but lost to Pooja Pal by a slim margin.

On a Samajwadi Party (SP) ticket, he contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections but lost again. During this time, Akhilesh Yadav, former UP Chief Minister, distanced himself from Atiq due to his criminal record.

In 2019, he contested the Lok Sabha elections from the Varanasi constituency against Prime Minister Narendra Modi but received only 855 votes.

Why Atiq Ahmed was arrested?

In 2017, Atiq Ahmed and his aides were accused of assaulting staff members of the Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHUATS) in Prayagraj. 

They allegedly attacked several teachers because the university took disciplinary action against two students who were caught cheating and subsequently barred from the exams.

The police arrested Atiq as per the direction given by the high court. 

Why was Atiq Ahmed in Sabarmati Jail?

During his imprisonment, Atiq Ahmed allegedly masterminded the abduction of a Lucknow-based real estate dealer Mohit Jaiswal in December 2018. 

Jaiswal claimed that he was forcibly taken to Deoria district jail where he was beaten and coerced by Atiq Ahmed and his associates to hand over his properties worth crores. 

As a result, in April 2019, the Supreme Court directed Atiq Ahmed to be moved to a high-security section in Sabarmati Central Jail in Gujarat.

Why is Atiq Ahmed in Prayagraj Court?

Atiq and his brother Ashraf have been brought to Prayagraj court in connection with the 2007 Umesh Pal kidnapping case. Umesh Pal was a crucial witness in the BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case. 

According to India Today, Umesh Pal, then a zila panchayat member, had told police he was a witness to the murder of Raju Pal. 

Umesh alleged that he was abducted on 28 February 2006 at gunpoint by Atiq Ahmed after he refused to retract his statement and succumb to pressure. 

On 5 July 2007, he filed an FIR against Ahmed and his brother.

Last month, Umesh Pal was fatally shot outside his residence in Prayagraj.

His wife, Jaya Pal, registered the case against Atiq Ahmed, his brother Ashraf, his wife Shaista Parveen, two sons, accomplices Guddu Muslim and Ghulam, and nine others at Dhoomanganj police station.

On 28 March, the special court in Prayagraj pronounced its verdict in the kidnapping case. The Special MP-MLA court judge Dinesh Chandra Shukla convicted Atiq Ahmed, Dinesh Pasi and Khan Saulat Hanif under Indian Penal Code section 364-A (kidnapping or abduction in order to murder). A fine of ₹5,000 was also imposed on Atiq Ahmed.