Ranchi: A Simdega court sentenced MLA Anosh Ekka to rigorous imprisonment for life and slapped a penalty of Rs 1 lakh for the murder of a para teacher ahead of the 2014 Assembly elections on Tuesday.
The sentence, delivered by the court of additional district judge Niraj Srivastava, who had convicted the Kolebira MLA on Saturday, means that Ekka stands disqualified from the state Assembly with immediate effect as per Section 8 of Representation of the People Act-1951 although a formal notification from the Assembly might take a couple of days.
The court also awarded a similar sentence to PLFI rebel Dhanesh Baraik, who was found guilty along with Ekka, said public prosecutor Mahendra Prasad.
"Both Ekka and Baraik were convicted under Sections 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 364A (kidnapping for ransom) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) under IPC. After arguments, the court handed them rigorous punishment," the public prosecutor said over phone.
Ekka, who lodged in Birsa Munda central prison in Hotwar, is the third MLA to lose Assembly membership after being convicted in criminal cases. The others are JMM MLAs Yogendra Mahto (Gomia) and Amit Mahto (Silli). In subsequent byelections, JMM candidates were able to win in both Gomia and Silli.
The brother of deceased para teacher and social worker Manoj Kumar said the family was satisfied with the sentence.
"Our family thanks the judiciary for giving the culprits of my brother's murder life sentence," Arvind told The Telegraph over phone. "We also thank police who cracked the case and pursued it to its logical end. This makes one believe that no matter how big or influential one is, someday the law will certainly take its own course. It's been a four-year-long struggle for us," he said.
Ekka, who won the Kolebira seat in 2005, 2009 and 2014, was a minister in successive coalition governments led by Arjun Munda, Madhu Koda and Shibu Soren. He is also facing disproportionate assets charges.
The prosecution during the trial proved that Ekka masterminded Manoj's murder, leading PLFI area commander Barud Gope and his men, including Dhanesh, to kidnap the 42-year-old para-teacher and kill him on November 27, 2014. Apparently, in run up to elections, Kumar had publicly opposed Ekka's candidature citing the latter's unfulfilled promises of 2009 elections, primary of them was giving a block status to Lasia area and division status to Kolebira.
