Pappu Yadav released from jail

Four days after the court acquitted former RJD MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav on charges of killing CPI-M leader Ajit Sarkar, he was formally released from jail here Tuesday, police officials said.

Citing lack of evidence, the Patna High Court last Friday acquitted Yadav in the case related to Sarkar's murder.

Left Front parties in Bihar last Saturday had urged the CBI to appeal in the Supreme Court against the acquittal.

"Yadav was released from the high security Beur Jail here," a police official said.

Hundreds of Yadav's supporters had gathered outside the jail Tuesday morning. They shouted slogans in his favour and distributed sweets after he was released.

Yadav's wife and former MP Ranjita Ranjan and several RJD and Congress leaders were present at the time his release.

Sarkar was killed May 14, 1998, while returning from a meeting of party workers in Purnea.

A division bench of Patna High Court Justice V.N. Singh and Justice K.K. Lal set aside the February 2008 conviction of Yadav and co-accused Rajan Tiwari and Anil Kumar Yadav. The high court acquitted all three of all charges in the case.