Prime accused in Nandi attack case dies in Delhi hospital

ALLAHABAD: Rajesh Pilot alias Anand Shandilya – the prime accused in minister Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’ attack case – died at Safdarganj hospital in Delhi following brain hemorrhage late on Tuesday night.
Confirming the death of the prime accused in the minister attack case, ADG (Jail) Chandra Prakash told TOI, “Rajesh Pilot died following brain hemorrhage at the Safdarganj hospital at around 1am on Tuesday night.”
The ADG said that Rajesh was shifted to Bulandsahar district jail from Naini central jail on February 17, on administrative grounds.He added that Rajesh was admitted at Safdargunj hospital on September 2 after he was referred by doctors at Meerut Medical College.
A resident of Undrakacha village in Harda district of Madhya Pradesh, Rajesh, who also carried a cash reward of Rs 2.5 lakh and was absconding since 2003 after committing two bank dacoities, was arrested by a team of special task force (STF) of UP police in connection with the minister attack case near Mumbai airport in October, 2010.
He had allegedly triggered a bomb blast near the house of the minister in Allahabad on July 12, 2010. The cabinet minister was critically injured and two, including a journalist, were killed in the attack. A total of 18 persons, including the accused Rajesh Pilot, were named behind the attack.
On November 12, 2017, Rajesh Pilot was allegedly attacked by some fellow prisoners including hardened criminal Udhan Singh over a petty dispute at the Naini central jail. He had sustained serious injuries and was admitted to the jail hospital for treatment.