Controversial former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Member of Parliament Pappu Yadav was acquitted Friday by the Patna High Court in connection with the 1998 murder of Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Ajit Sarkar due to lack of evidence.
A division bench comprising of Justices V N Singh and K K Lal set aside the February 2008 conviction of Yadav and two other accused - Rajan Tiwari and Anil Kumar Yadav - by a lower court, and acquitted them of all charges in connection with killing of Sarkar nearly 15 years ago.
The court also directed the authorities to release Yadav from jail forthwith if he was not wanted in any other case.
Sarkar, a former CPI(M) legislator, was shot dead by unidentified persons in Purnia district on June 14, 1998.
