Former Bihar MP Prabhunath convicted in murder case, sent to jail

A local court in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh district on Thursday pronounced former RJD MP, Prabhunath Singh, guilty in the murder of Ashok Singh, then a Janata Dal MLA from Bihar's Masarakh constituency.

"The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on May 23," said the Additional District and Sessions judge Surendra Sharma. Prabhunath, who was present in the court, was immediately taken into custody and sent to jail after being pronounced guilty by the court. 

A former JD (U) MP from Bihar's Maharajganj in 2004 who later shifted his allegiance to Lalu Prasad and became RJD MP in the 2013 by-election, Prabhunath eventually lost during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. 

The 22-year-old murder case of the Bihar legislator dates back to July 3, 1995, when Ashok Singh was sitting on the sprawling campus of his official residence 5,



Mangles Road in Patna. At around 7 pm, three unidentified assailants barged into his campus and hurled bombs at him leading to his instant death. Ashok was 28 years old when he was killed.

His wife Chandni, who alleged that the killing was orchestrated by Prabhunath Singh, whom Ashok had defeated in 1995 Bihar Assembly polls, later lodged a FIR against Prabhunath and his brothers.

During the trial, it was found that Ashok was killed within three hours of meeting the then DGP, GP Dohre whom he had reportedly pleaded to beef up his security cover. The trial was later shifted to Hazaribagh (then in undivided Bihar) in 1997 on the directive of the Patna High Court.

"We respect the court verdict. Each individual is accountable for his action," said RJD legislator Shakti Yadav, reacting on the arrest of his party leader.