In a shocking and tragic incident, gangster Sanjeev Maheshwari, popularly known as Jeeva, was mercilessly gunned down within the premises of the Lucknow civil court. The incident occurred on a fateful Wednesday afternoon, when Maheshwari was brought from the confines of the Lucknow district jail to attend a hearing for a criminal case in the courtroom.

The courtroom was filled with an air of anticipation as Maheshwari stood before the judge, awaiting the proceedings. Little did anyone know that this routine court appearance would turn into a scene of terror and bloodshed. Suddenly, chaos erupted as an assailant disguised as a lawyer swiftly drew a concealed weapon and opened fire. The deafening sound of gunshots reverberated throughout the room, shattering the peace and security of the court.

The hail of bullets found their marks, causing Maheshwari to collapse under the weight of his injuries. The ruthless attacker's aim also struck a woman who happened to be standing nearby, innocent and unsuspecting. Panic engulfed the courtroom as people scrambled for cover, desperate to escape the unfolding violence.

Amidst the panic, a team of courageous police officers, who happened to be present within the court premises, swiftly sprang into action. They rushed to the aid of the victims, determined to save their lives. With a sense of urgency, the wounded Maheshwari and the woman were carefully lifted and transported to the nearest hospital, their lives hanging in the balance.

Meanwhile, the police wasted no time in their pursuit of justice. Their immediate response led to the prompt detainment of the assailant responsible for this heinous act. While the motive behind this targeted attack remains unclear, authorities are diligently investigating every lead to uncover the truth and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Sanjeev Maheshwari, a native of Muzaffarnagar, has long been entangled in a web of criminal activities. His name has surfaced in connection with various high-profile cases, including the notorious 2005 murder of BJP MLA Krishna Nand Rai in Ghazipur district. Surprisingly, despite his alleged involvement, the court had acquitted Maheshwari, along with the prime accused gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, and all others implicated in the case.

Furthermore, Maheshwari has also been convicted for his role in the murder of senior BJP leader Brahm Dutt Dwivedi, a chilling crime that occurred in Farrukhabad district back in February 1997. These acts of violence have stained his name and cemented his reputation as a dangerous and formidable criminal.

Not limited to his own criminal record, Maheshwari's association with the political arena has also garnered attention. In the 2017 assembly election, his wife, Payal Maheshwari, sought political office on an RLD ticket in Muzaffarnagar. Unfortunately for the couple, victory eluded them, and they faced defeat at the ballot box.

Conviction in the Brahm Dutt Dwivedi murder

The murder of Brahm Dutt Dwivedi, a prominent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Farrukhabad, remains etched in the memory of those who witnessed the tragic event. On February 10, 1997, Dwivedi met his untimely demise while seated in his car, having just attended a tilak ceremony in the City Kotwali area of Farrukhabad district. The assailants unleashed a hail of bullets, fatally injuring Dwivedi, while also claiming the life of his gunner, BK Tiwari. Dwivedi's driver, Rinku, suffered injuries in the attack.

The subsequent investigation into this heinous crime led to significant developments. On July 17, 2003, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Lucknow pronounced its verdict, handing down life sentences to Sanjeev Maheshwari, also known as Jeeva, and former Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Vijay Singh for their involvement in the murder. However, dissatisfied with the judgment, both Maheshwari and Singh chose to challenge the decision in the High Court. Ultimately, in 2017, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court upheld the earlier judgment rendered by the trial court, affirming the convictions of Maheshwari and Singh.

The murder of Brahm Dutt Dwivedi holds significance beyond the crime itself. Dwivedi was widely perceived as having come to the aid of Mayawati, the leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) at that time, when she found herself surrounded by miscreants affiliated with the SP. The incident occurred on June 2, 1995, when Mayawati made the decision to withdraw support from the SP-BSP alliance government that had been in power since December 1993.

Mayawati, seeking refuge, had taken shelter in Room No. 1 on the ground floor of a guesthouse in Lucknow. However, her safety was compromised as a crowd of SP workers gathered outside, effectively trapping her. It was then that Brahm Dutt Dwivedi, a devoted BJP MLA from Farrukhabad, intervened to rescue Mayawati. Dwivedi ensured her protection, and recognizing the gravity of the situation, he reached out to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a senior leader of the BJP. With Dwivedi's assistance, Mayawati was safely escorted to the Governor's House. The BJP, extending its support to the BSP, facilitated Mayawati's ascent to the Chief Minister's office, and she subsequently took the oath the following morning.

The murder of Brahm Dutt Dwivedi serves as a reminder of the political complexities and conflicts that often characterize the landscape of Uttar Pradesh. Dwivedi's selfless act in protecting Mayawati played a pivotal role in shaping the state's political trajectory at that time. The subsequent conviction of Sanjeev Maheshwari and Vijay Singh in connection with Dwivedi's murder further underscores the pursuit of justice and accountability in such high-profile cases.

The shocking incident involving Sanjeev Maheshwari is not an isolated event within the state of Uttar Pradesh. In recent times, there has been a distressing rise in the targeting and elimination of incarcerated gangsters and their associates. Just a few months prior to this incident, gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, along with his brother Ashraf Ahmed, met a similar fate in Prayagraj while being transported for a medical examination. Tragically, Atiq Ahmed's son, Asad Ahmed, had also lost his life in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force just days before this incident.

The wave of violence did not stop there. In the preceding month, another notorious gangster, Anil Dujana, met his demise in an encounter with a Special Task Force (STF) team in Meerut. Astonishingly, this encounter occurred just a week after Dujana's release on bail from Tihar jail. Dujana had been the primary accused in the murder of Jaychand Pradhan and had been apprehended and incarcerated for the crime four years prior to his untimely death.

These incidents highlight the increasingly volatile and perilous nature of the criminal underworld and the efforts being made to bring such individuals to justice. It also underscores the importance of maintaining and strengthening security measures to ensure the safety of not only the incarcerated but also those involved in the legal processes of bringing them to justice.

As the investigation into Sanjeev Maheshwari's murder continues, it is a somber reminder of the constant struggle between law enforcement and criminal elements. The hope remains that justice will prevail, offering solace to the victims and their families, and sending a resounding message that violence will not go unanswered in the pursuit of a just society.