Murder of an MLA : The Judgment and Analysis

 Murder of an MLA : The Judgment

Short Article written in Memory of Late Shri R.P. Mishra, Prayagraj

This article explains some aspects of Late Krishnanand Rai's murder in 2005.

AK-47 was used in this offence [who killed Rai is not clear]. Krishnanand Rai was an MLA [not an ex-MLA] when he died. All accused in this case were acquitted. Factors like witnesses turning hostile was also noted. Page 232 noted that SLR [self loading rifle] was used. AK47/AK56 was also used. Vehicle used was Tata Sumo. 

Para 43 of Judgment noted that Dr. Anil Kumar conducted PM of KR. He was PW13. 

Page 65 of Judgment says 18 empty cartridges were there. This was deposition of PW46 OP Singh who was SO of PS. 

These are Court records. What does media houses report and how shoddy their research is ?

Hindustan [a newspaper] says 500 rounds were fired. [https://www.livehindustan.com/national/story-krishnanand-rai-murder-case-when-500-rounds-of-bullets-were-fired-at-bjp-mla-mukhtar-ansari-gang-was-accused-9639170.html]

India Today, another magazine which sells its magazines on payment and charges money for advertisements, reports that 500 rounds were fired. [https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mukhtar-ansari-dead-krishnanand-rai-braid-chopped-off-ak47-murder-gazipur-mohammadabad-2520816-2024-03-29] This also falsely says that it was first time AK-47 was used for first time in India for murder. This website also falsely says "In April 2023, a court in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur convicted and sentenced Mukhtar Ansari to 10 years imprisonment for Krishnanand Rai's murder." 

Hindustan times claims "The police recovered more than 400 bullet shells from the spot. As many as 21 bullets were recovered from Rai’s body alone". [https://www.hindustantimes.com/lucknow/krishnanand-rai-murder-case-over-400-bullet-shells-recovered-from-crime-scene/story-rCdsLI3a6Kz09t9y4kodzM.html] 

Another website called Opindia says "Reports suggest that as many as 500 bullets were fired from six AK-47s. This was the first time that AK 47 rifles had been used for murder in India". The claim is certainly false and irresponsible. [https://www.opindia.com/2024/03/mukhtar-ansari-plotted-executed-krishnanand-rai-murder-from-the-confines-of-jail/#google_vignette]

Another newspaper "The Hindu" which claims itself as responsible and run by some so-called intellectuals, says Mukhtar Ansari was convicted for murder of Krishnanand Rai. [https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/gangster-turned-politician-mukhtar-ansari-dies-of-cardiac-arrest/article68003759.ece] 

Another website says Mukhtar Ansari Gang Killed K. Rai ; this is false when published in 2024. "500 rounds of gunfire were shot from six AK 47 rifles in which Krishnanand Rai and six others were killed." [https://www.indiatvnews.com/uttar-pradesh/when-mukhtar-ansari-gang-killed-bjp-mla-krishnanand-rai-using-six-ak-47-500-rounds-of-fire-in-november-2005-2024-03-29-923713]