Varanasi court acquits Abhay Singh and others in long-pending shootout case involving Dhananjay Singh
April 15, 2026: A court in Varanasi has delivered its verdict in the 2002 Nadesar shootout case, acquitting all accused, including Abhay Singh and Vineet Singh. The case stemmed from an attack on former Jaunpur MP Dhananjay Singh, who was shot and injured during the incident nearly 24 years ago.
The shootout occurred on October 4, 2002, near Taksal Cinema in the Nadesar area when Dhananjay Singh’s vehicle was fired upon while he was returning in his car. He and four associates were injured in the attack, and reports at the time suggested that Singh also returned fire. A case was subsequently filed against multiple accused under the Gangster Act.
Earlier, in August 2025, a trial court had acquitted four main accused citing lack of evidence. The decision was later challenged in the High Court by Dhananjay Singh, who argued that as the victim, he had the right to appeal. With the latest verdict, the long-pending case has effectively come to a close.