Former Member of Parliament Dhananjay Singh has been sentenced to a seven-year jail term by the MP–MLA court of Jaunpur on Tuesday. The court, led by Additional Sessions Judge Sharad Kumar Tripathi, found Singh and his close aide Satish Vikram Singh guilty of kidnapping, extortion, and criminal conspiracy in a case lodged in May 2020.
The Case Details
The case against Dhananjay Singh and his associate arose from an incident involving the project manager of the Namami Gange Yojana, Abhinav Singhal. According to the government counsel, Satish Pandey, Singhal filed a complaint against the former MP and his partner at the Linebazar police station under various sections, including kidnapping and extortion.
The complaint detailed a harrowing account of Singhal being forcibly taken to Dhananjay Singh’s residence, where he was threatened at gunpoint to supply low-quality materials for the project. The incident marked a severe abuse of power, leading to the legal proceedings against Singh and his associate.
The court’s decision came after a thorough review of the case, where both parties were heard extensively. Judge Tripathi, after deliberating on the evidence and arguments, held Dhananjay Singh and Santosh Vikram guilty, sentencing them to seven years in prison and imposing a fine of Rs 50,000 each.
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This verdict has significant implications for Dhananjay Singh, particularly concerning his political career. As the minimum sentence in kidnapping cases is seven years, Singh will be ineligible to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections unless the sentence is stayed by a higher court.
Dhananjay Singh, known as ‘Purvanchal Bahubali,’ has had a controversial political journey. He first entered active politics by winning the 2002 assembly elections as an independent candidate from the Rari seat in Jaunpur and retained this seat in 2007 as a JD(U) candidate. His tenure as a Member of Parliament from 2009 to 2014 as a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) member was marked by various controversies, leading to his expulsion from the party by BSP president Mayawati in 2011.
Despite these setbacks, Singh had indicated plans to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from the Jaunpur seat. However, this recent conviction and the subsequent jail term pose a significant hurdle to his political aspirations.
Conclusion
The sentencing of Dhananjay Singh marks a critical moment in the ongoing efforts to address criminal activities involving political figures. The court’s decision underscores the importance of holding individuals accountable, regardless of their political stature or influence. As Singh and his associate face the consequences of their actions, the case serves as a reminder of the legal system’s role in maintaining justice and order in society.
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