Gangster Anand Shandilya acquitted in loot case

A local court on Thursday acquitted dreaded gangster Anand Shandilya in a loot case committed at a petrol pump in Bhanwarkua area of the city around 10 years ago.

Court of additional district judge Pankaj Gaur acquitted Anand for want of adequate evidence.

Defense counsel Vikas Yadav told dna that the court observed that the prosecution failed to put up sufficient evidence to corroborate the charges and prove that Anand was involved in the loot. 

Barring one eye witness Jitendra Rathaur, all  others had turned hostile during trial, Yadav added.  Police officers including three police station in charge and two CSPs appeared in the court in connection with the case but that did not help the prosecution.

The prosecution said Anand with Vijay, a native of Ghaziabad and Arvind Singh of Sultanpur in UP had looted Rs 30,000 from Prakash Petrol Pump in Bhanwarkua area on February 6, 2003. One of the accused Vijay is still absconding while Arvind was granted bail during trial.

Five cases are pending against Anand in various courts in Madhya Pradesh.  A reward of Rs 5 lakh was announced for   arrest of Anand, who is accused in 17 murders including that of a UP minister. He had also allegedly hurled a bomb at a minister there.

In a joint operation Maharshtra and UP STF had caught him when he was to board a flight at domestic airport in Mumbai in October 2010.  He was lodged in Indore district jail in connection with two cases pending against him here.