SC issues notice to Akhilesh Singh in Modi murder case

The Supreme Court has issued notice to Akhilesh Singh, who was allegedly involved in the murder of national badminton champion Syed Modi eight years ago.

The notice, returnable within four weeks, was issued by a division bench comprising Justice M M Punchhi and Justice K T Thomas on a special leave petition by the Central Bureau of Investigation, challenging an order of a single judge of the Allahahabd high court, quashing the charges against him.

Modi was murdered while he was coming out of the K D Singh Babu Stadium in Lucknow on July 28,1988. Investigations in the case revealed that Akhilesh Singh was involved in commissioning of the murder even though the actual execution of the murder was done by four other accused.

The investigation also revealed that he provided a vehicle to the four accused to commit the crime and escape from the scene.

He allegedly also provided accommodation to both before the crime and thereafter, besides giving them the weapon of offence.

In September 1990, the sessions judge of Lucknow framed charges against Akhilesh Singh and others. Five years later, Akhilesh Singh filed a writ petition before the Lucknow bench of the high court seeking quashing of charges against him. On August 19 last year, the single judge of the high court quashed the charges.

Additional Solicitor-General Abishek Singhvi submitted before the court that the high court had exceeded its jurisdiction under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code while quashing the charges.

Former federal minister Sanjay Singh and Amita Modi, widow of the slain badminton champion, who were also accused in the case, had already been discharged by the Lucknow sessions court.

The order had been confirmed by the high court and upheld by the Supreme Court.

UNI