3 min readLucknowUpdated: Apr 16, 2026 11:03 AM IST
A special court in Varanasi on Wednesday acquitted all six accused, including Gosaiganj MLA Abhay Singh and MLC Vineet Singh, in a case involving an attack on gangster-turned-politician Dhananjay Singh in 2002, granting them the “benefit of doubt”.
Abhay Singh, a former associate of Dhananjay, the former Jaunpur MP, later turned his political rival.
Additional District Government Counsel, Varanasi, Vinay Singh, said the court examined nine prosecution witnesses and seven defence witnesses during the trial. “Hearing the matter and evaluating the evidence on record, the court acquitted all six accused, extending them the benefit of doubt,” he said.
All six accused had been out on bail during the pendency of the trial.
When contacted, Dhananjay’s counsel, Ajay Singh, said they would first examine the judgment in detail before taking any further legal steps.
In the 2002 Assembly polls, Dhananjay contested as an Independent candidate and won the Rari seat in Jaunpur. He successfully retained the seat in 2007, this time as a JD(U) candidate. He later contested the 2009 Lok Sabha election and won on a BSP ticket.
According to the prosecution, on October 4, 2002, Dhananjay — then an MLA — was allegedly attacked in the Nadesar area of Varanasi while returning to Jaunpur along with his associates. It was alleged that assailants opened fire using sophisticated weapons as his vehicle passed through the area, leaving Dhananjay, his gunner, driver and an associate injured.
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A case was registered at Cantonment police station against Abhay and others under charges including attempt to murder. It was alleged that the crime was a fallout of an old rivalry between Dhananjay and Abhay.
Abhay was elected MLA in 2022 on a Samajwadi Party ticket. He was expelled by the party in 2025 for anti-party activities.
Following his acquittal, Abhay Singh said he had been falsely implicated in the case by Dhananjay Singh, to secure government-provided security cover. He claimed that Dhananjay had political differences with him and had fabricated the case in an attempt to malign his image.
Meanwhile, MLC Shyam Narayan Singh told reporters that there was no evidence against him and that the court delivered justice. He had been wrongly implicated and this was the only case pending against him, the MLC added.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
