Sanjeev Maheshwari, also known as Jeeva, a notorious gangster and former compounder, was shot dead inside an SC/ST court in Lucknow by unknown assailants on June 8. Jeeva had been involved in criminal activities for almost three decades and was an active member of Mafia turned politician Mukhtar Ansari. He had formed a group called IS-1, which was involved in murder, loot, extortion, robbery, cheating, and kidnapping cases in most areas of Western Uttar Pradesh, India.
Jeeva had become an infamous gangster after being convicted for the murder of BJP leader Braham Dutt Dwivedi in 1997, for which he was sentenced to life imprisonment. According to the Uttar Pradesh Police, Jeeva was involved in 24 cases and booked under the Gangster Act 22 times. His property worth 4 crore was confiscated under the provisions of the Act.
Jeeva’s wife, Payal, contested the 2017 UP Assembly election on a ticket of RLD from the Muzaffarnagar Sadar area but lost the contest. On June 8, Jeeva was brought to court for a hearing regarding the murder of BJP leader Braham Dutt Dwivedi when an assailant disguised as a lawyer shot him, injuring two police officials and a child.
Jeeva’s death has brought to highlight the issue of dangerous criminals and the security measures taken while bringing them to the court. In this instance, the assailant managed to enter the court and carry out the attack, leading to concerns about the safety protocols in place and calls for stricter measures to avoid such incidents in the future.
The shooting incident has once again raised concerns about the potential danger associated with notorious gangsters and their criminal activities. The Uttar Pradesh Police have launched a thorough investigation to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice. In the meantime, Jeeva’s death has brought an end to an era of criminal activities that spanned almost three decades.
