Former MP Prabhunath Singh's conviction in the 1995 murder of Masrakh MLA Ashok Singh was an unexpected verdict for the leader, said a close aide, as he was sure of an acquittal and had planned to visit temples on his way back to Bihar.

The court of additional district and sessions judge IX Surendra Sharma will pronounce the quantum of punishment on May 23. But as police took him in custody and forwarded to Loknayak Jai Prakash Narayan Central Jail in Hazaribagh, Singh did not utter a word. Kept in the general ward, jail sources said, he showed no interest in talking to anyone, was accorded no special treatment and spent the night in discomfort.

" Bhaiya bhi nahi soche the ki aisa faisla aayega (Even if he could not think this would be the verdict)," a close aide of Singh told The Telegraph Friday afternoon on condition he would not be named. "Singh and his supporters had started for Hazaribagh in 20 SUVs and the plan was to go to Ma Chhinamastika temple in Ramgarh, Baba Baidyanath temple in Deoghar and finally Tarapith in Bengal. He was so confident that the decision would be in his favour that Singh took only two pair of clothes with him."

People close to Singh said they had not seen him as depressed as he was on Thursday.