Patna, Feb 14 : A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Patna on Thursday awarded life imprisonment to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Lok Sabha MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav in connection with the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) MLA Ajit Sarkar murder case.

The court also awarded life imprisonment to Rajan Tiwari and Anil Yadav.

The trial that began on August 2, 2002 concluded following a Patna High Court order that it should be wrapped up by January 31. This deadline was later extended for a fortnight by the High Court.

Sarkar, who had a feud with Yadav over issues related to farm labourers, was shot dead in Purnea on June 14, 1998.

The CBI had chargesheeted five persons including Pappu, Tiwari, Anil, Harish Chaudhary and Amar Yadav. (ANI)