Kanpur: Granted bail by the Supreme Court in his appeal against a 10-year sentence in a Gangsters Act case linked to the Bikru incident, slain gangster Vikas Dubey’s close aide Dhirendra alias Hiru Dubey walked out of Kanpur Dehat district jail on Friday evening after spending about six years behind bars.A police team raiding Dubey’s house in Bikru village, Kanpur, was ambushed on the night of July 2, 2020, killing eight policemen, including a deputy superintendent of police. Police subsequently intensified action against Dubey and his associates. Eight days after the Bikru village bloodbath in which eight cops were killed, Dubey was shot dead in an early Friday morning encounter by the STF and police. The encounter occurred near Sachendi area, 2km from district headquarters, when one of the three police vehicles taking Dubey to Kanpur from Ujjain, where he was arrested, overturned following heavy rains near Sachendi on the highwayInvestigators accused Hiru of involvement in the conspiracy and Bikru incident, describing him as a close and trusted associate of Dubey. He allegedly played an active role in panchayat affairs and attended block and area panchayat meetings as the pradhan’s representative. The pradhani of Bikru village was held by Anjali, wife of Dubey’s brother Deepak.Hiru absconded after police action began, prompting authorities to announce a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to his arrest. He surrendered before the Mati court in Aug 2020.The STF received information about his arrival but stepped back following opposition from lawyers, after which he surrendered in court.Hiru faced action in several cases, including murder, attempted murder, criminal conspiracy, rioting, illegal possession of arms and the Gangsters Act. Thirty accused faced trial in the Gangsters Act case, with 23, including Hiru, sentenced to 10 years each. Seven were acquitted for lack of evidence.After his release from Mati jail, where he spent about six years, Hiru told reporters that he had faith in the judiciary. He said he did not know the circumstances in which the Bikru incident occurred, but added that whatever happened was wrong.Ashwini Tripathi, Hiru’s lawyer, said, “I have been involved in this case since 2020. There were flaws in the case. He has been granted bail by the Supreme Court. Whatever decision comes next, we will respect it.”
