Allahabad High Court Grants Conditional Bail to Pooja Shakun Pandey in Aligarh Businessman Abhishek Gupta Murder Case
Allahabad High Court Grants Conditional Bail to Key Accused in High-Profile Abhishek Gupta Murder Case
By Rajesh Pandey
The Allahabad High Court has granted conditional bail to Pooja Shakun Pandey, also known as former Mahamandaleshwar Annapurna Bharti, who is one of the key accused in the high-profile murder case of Aligarh-based businessman Abhishek Gupta.
The case had attracted widespread public attention due to the manner in which the crime was allegedly executed and the serious allegations of criminal conspiracy involved.
Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal allowed the bail application on April 13, directing the accused to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation and trial proceedings.
The court also clarified that the relief was granted without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case.
Background of the Murder Case
The case relates to the killing of Abhishek Gupta, a bike showroom owner in Aligarh, who was shot dead on September 26, 2025.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the attack was carried out by two assailants riding a motorcycle.
The victim was reportedly travelling by bus when the attackers opened fire, leading to his death on the spot.
During the investigation, the names of Pooja Shakun Pandey and her husband surfaced in connection with the alleged conspiracy behind the murder.
The prosecution claimed that both were involved in planning the crime and had links with the main accused persons.
Prosecution’s Allegations
According to the prosecution, call detail records indicated that on September 27, 2025, eleven calls were made from the mobile phone of the applicant to the co-accused Faizal.
Investigating agencies alleged that these communications suggested her involvement in the alleged conspiracy leading to the murder of the businessman.
The prosecution argued that the telephonic conversations between the accused and co-accused persons pointed towards coordination and prior planning connected with the crime.
Defence Argument Before the Court
Counsel appearing for the accused argued that apart from call detail records, there was no conclusive or direct evidence establishing the involvement of the applicant in the alleged conspiracy.
It was submitted that the applicant had not played any direct role in the commission of the crime and that the allegations were based largely on suspicion arising out of phone call records.
The defence maintained that no material evidence had been produced linking the applicant directly to the act of firing or the execution of the crime.
Court’s Observations
While allowing the bail application, the High Court observed that the specific role of causing firearm injury had been attributed to co-accused Faizal and Asif.
The court noted that both co-accused had been identified in CCTV footage, and firearms were also recovered in their possession during the course of the investigation.
The court further observed that the only role attributed to the applicant was that of alleged conspiracy and that there was no conclusive material on record at this stage to establish her involvement in planning the offence.
Justice Deshwal also took into consideration the fact that the applicant is a woman, along with the nature of the allegations, available evidence, and the extent of complicity attributed to her.
The court clarified that the observations made in the order are limited to consideration of the bail application and shall not influence the merits of the trial.
Directions to Cooperate with the Investigation
While granting bail, the High Court directed the accused to cooperate with the trial proceedings and comply with all conditions imposed by the court.
The order emphasised that the investigation and judicial process must continue unhindered.
The case continues to remain under judicial scrutiny, and further proceedings will determine the outcome based on the evidence presented during the trial.
