A Lucknow court has acquitted all individuals involved in the 2007 Shatrughan Singh–Jitendra Tripathi double murder case, including Gosainganj MLA Abhay Singh, marking the end of a 19-year legal dispute. The special MP-MLA court cleared Singh and his co-accused Ravindra alias Rajju, Ajay Pratap Singh alias Ajay Sipahi, and Firoz Ahmed of all allegations.
The incident, dating back to March 31, 2007, saw Shatrughan Singh alias Chhotu and Jitendra Tripathi fatally shot at a tent house in Lucknow’s Bazaar Khala area by assailants on motorcycles around 9 pm. Ravindra, Ajay Pratap Singh, and Firoz Ahmed were initially identified as the main suspects, with Abhay Singh later implicated for alleged involvement in a conspiracy while he was detained under the National Security Act (NSA).
After a thorough investigation, Lucknow Police filed a chargesheet against all accused on August 13, 2008. Following extensive legal proceedings spanning nearly two decades, the MP-MLA special court in Lucknow ultimately absolved all defendants. The court determined that the evidence and witness statements lacked sufficient credibility, leading to the exoneration of Abhay Singh and his co-accused.
Abhay Singh, known for his political stance during the Rajya Sabha elections where he defied the Samajwadi Party to support a BJP candidate, is yet to provide an official response. Speculation and debates within political circles have surged in response to the court’s decision.