Lucknow: Mafioso-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad was in a police car on his way to CBI court in Lucknow when he effusively praised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday.
The former MP and Samajwadi party leader told reports from Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat that Yogi is a "brave and honest chief minister", according to NDTV.
Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf, accused of killing BSP MLA Raju Pal, were produced before the Anti-Corruption Court of CBI over that case on Thursday.
Khalid Ajim alias Ashraf was arrested by UP police in July 2020 in the murder case of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal.
Raju Pal, a BSP candidate from Allahabad west, had defeated Ajim in the 2004 Assembly polls.
Raju Pal was killed just after four months of elections in Sulem Sarai Bazar on January 25, 2005, according to the report.
Hindustan Times back in August 2022 reported about the waning clout of the gangster after the arrest of his younger brother and son.
Atiq Ahmad, until his wings got clipped recently, invoked terror in Uttar Pradesh.
Alongside, the Prayagraj police arrested many of the gangster's close associates, thus rounding him up.
Ali Ahmad, second among five sons of Atiq, earlier surrendered in the district court after police declared a reward of ₹50000 on his arrest.
When Ali turned himself in to the court, Atiq suffered a major blow on his clout with his power beginning to wither away.
Until now, Atiq's terror went unchecked even outside several districts of the state.