New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the plea of former MP and alleged gangster Atiq Ahmed, who is jailed in the Umesh Pal murder case, seeking security during his custody by the Uttar Pradesh Police.
A bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and Bela M Trivedi granted liberty to Ahmed to approach the Allahabad High Court for protection after he claimed that there was a threat to his life while in the custody of the UP police.
It refused to record that the life of the former Samajwadi Party MP was in danger despite a strong request by Ahmed’s lawyer. The court said that since he is in judicial custody, the Uttar Pradesh state machinery will take care of his safety in case there is a threat to his life.
“There is no such case where this court is going to interfere. Liberty has been given to file an appropriate application before the High Court. Whatever procedure has been laid down under law will be followed,” the bench said.
Ahmed’s lawyer said there was a grave threat to his life while in police custody in the Umesh Pal murder case. “I am not averse to any custody or police inquiry in this matter, but I want that I be given security as there is a serious threat to my life,” he said.
However, the bench rejected his plea. The top court was hearing Ahmed’s plea seeking protection and claiming that he and his family have been falsely implicated as accused in the Umesh Pal murder case in Prayagraj.
Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder of then BSP MLA Raju Pal, and two of his security guards were killed in a shootout on February 24.