Dhanbad, Oct. 27: Former urban development minister of Jharkhand Bachcha Singh was acquitted in the infamous Sakaldeo Singh murder case by a Dhanbad court after a 12-year-long trial today. He was given the benefit of doubt due to lack of evidence.

Fast-track court V of Justice Sudhir Kumar Singh also acquitted two other accused in the case — Munna Singh and Upendra Singh.

The court is yet to pronounce judgement against three other accused in the case, including younger brother of Bachcha and trade union leader Ramadhir Singh, his nephew Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Sher Bahadur Singh. While Rajiv Ranjan and Sher Bahadur are absconding, Ramadhir Singh is out on bail.

Expressing happiness over the judgement, Bachcha claimed he was in jail under the National Security Act during the time of the incident and was falsely implicated by people who hatched a conspiracy against him. Altogether 18 prosecution witnesses and five defence witnesses were examined by the court.

Janata Dal leader Sakaldeo Singh was killed by sharpshooters while he was on his way to attend the funeral of Congress leader Naurangdeo Singh on January 25, 1999. The assailants, who were in another car, chased Singh’s vehicle and fired on him near Bhuli township.

A case was later registered in this regard in Katras police station against three people — Bachcha Singh, Ramadhir Singh and Rajiv Singh — all members of the Singh Mansion family of Dhanbad on the complaint of one Doon Bahadur Singh who witnessed the incident.