Ajit Sarkar murder case accused held

One of the prime accused in the Communist Party of India-Marxist legislator Ajit Sarkar murder case, Harish Chaudhary, was arrested in Patna on Wednesday night after eluding the police for over eight years.

Chaudhary, who carried a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head, was arrested from his flat in Madhav Vihar Apartments in the Anandpuri locality under Srikrishnapuri police sation after the Central Bureau of Investigation, probing the case, alerted local police, officials said on Thursday.

Sarkar was shot dead on June 14, 1998, and controversial Rashtriya Janata Dal member of Parliament from Madhepura Pappu Yadav, former independent MLA Rajan Tiwari, Anil Yadav, Ajay Yadav and Harish Chaudhary were named accused.

Chaudhary is alleged to have made available the automatic weapon, which was used in the killing of Sarkar.