A district court in Hajipur, Bihar, cleared former MLA Vijay Kumar Shukla—often called Munna Shukla—and former MP Suraj Bhan Singh on Friday. Both men had been serving life sentences for the 1998 murder of gangster Bablu Srivastava and three police officers.
The case began in Patedha village of Vaishali district. Bablu Srivastava, a notorious criminal linked to the Bhutkun Shukla killing, was being moved from Hajipur jail to Muzaffarpur for a court hearing when armed men attacked the police van. Bhavishya Srivastava was shot dead on the spot, and three police officers were also gunned down.
Murder charges against the two politicians were never proven. The court found no evidence tying them to the killings and thus acquitted them. Shukla’s family says he was named in the case because of his brother’s connection to gangster Bhutkun Shukla. A family member told reporters the court had finally delivered justice, calling it a “blessing” amid fierce political rivalries.
The decision comes as Bihar’s Assembly elections approach. Munna Shukla’s daughter, Shivani Shukla, is set to run from Lalganj for the Rashtriya Janata Dal, while Suraj Bhan Singh’s wife, Veena Devi, will contest the Mokama seat against powerful figure Anant Singh. The acquittal gives both families a political boost as campaigns ramp up.
Shukla and Singh also face another case involving the murder of Bihar Minister Brij Bihari Prasad. While they are convicted and in prison for that case, the recent ruling clears them of any role in the 1998 police‑related murder.
For voters in Bihar, the verdict adds a new twist to the upcoming polls, spotlighting the growing mix of politics, crime, and judicial decisions.
Source: ianslive
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