The MP/MLA court in Lucknow is likely to pronounce its verdict today in a 22-year-old case in which Minister of State for Home, Ajay Misra Teni, is accused of murdering a student leader, Prabhat Gupta, in Lakhimpur Kheri.
As per the police report filed by the deceased’s father, Santosh Gupta, his son was shot dead on July 8, 2000, at Banveer Pur village under Tikunia police station. Prabhat Gupta was then 29.
Tikunia is the same place where Teni’s son Ashish allegedly mowed down farmers protesting against the now-repealed three farm laws on October 4, 2021. Banveer Pur is Teni’s place of birth.
As per the police report- which names four people, Misra first shot at Gupta’s temple and then one of his associates Subhash alias Mama shot him in the heart. Gupta died on the spot. One of Prabhat’s brothers- Santosh was the eyewitness to this daylight murder that happened at 3 pm.
Teni and Gupta had a falling out over the panchayat elections that had just concluded. The FIR records Teni and his associates waving guns and shouting that Gupta should not be left alive, that afternoon.
Teni was allegedly miffed by Gupta’s popularity as a student leader at Lucknow University and his growing influence in his village. While the former was with the BJP, Gupta was a member of the Samajwadi Party’s youth wing.
Today’s decision comes after years of legal wrangling. The last step in this was a refusal by the Supreme Court to permit a transfer of the case from the Lucknow bench of the High Court to the bench in Prayagraj. Teni’s argument for the transfer was that as his senior counsel was of advanced age, it was difficult for him to travel to Lucknow (some 200 kilometres away) for the hearings.
While the first order for Teni’s arrest came in May 2001, he surrendered before the court for just a day before being granted bail. In 2004, a court in Lakhimpur Kheri had set Teni free. Santosh Gupta went to the High Court in appeal.
The hearing was in its final stages when Teni’s lawyers approached the Supreme Court through a Special Leave Petition, which was eventually dismissed.
Besides being dismissed, the court also requested the High Court to dispose of the case, as previously decided, on November 10.
