Dhananjay Singh is an Indian politician and a gangster who served as a two times MLA and a Member of Parliament from Jaunpur district, Uttar Pradesh.[1] In March 2024, he was sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment for kidnapping and extortion.[2]
Dhananjay Singh | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 2009–2014 | |
| Preceded by | Parasnath Yadav |
| Succeeded by | Krishna Pratap Singh |
| Constituency | Jaunpur |
| Member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 2002–2009 | |
| Preceded by | Shriram Yadav |
| Succeeded by | Rajdeo Singh |
| Constituency | Rari now Malhani |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 July 1975 Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh |
| Political party | Janata Dal (United) (2022-) |
| Other political affiliations | Janata Dal (United) (2007-2009) Bahujan Samaj Party (2009-2012) |
| Spouse(s) | Meenu Singh (2006-2007) Jagriti Singh (2009-17) Srikala Reddy (2017- present) |
| Alma mater | University of Lucknow |
| Occupation | Politician, businessperson |
Early life and career
editDhananjay Singh was born in Jaunpur on 16 July 1975 in a Chandel Rajput family. According to the Lok Sabha, he is also involved in business and farming.[3]
Personal life
editSingh married his first wife, Meenu, on 12 December 2006. She died ten months later on 12 September 2007. Family members claimed that she committed suicide.[4][5] He married his second wife, Dr. Jagriti Singh, on 29 June 2009.[6] After mutual disagreement, they separated and he married his third wife, Srikala Reddy, a BJP politician, in 2017.[7][8] She won the Jaunpur zila panchayat (district council) chairperson poll in July 2021.[9]
Crime and Politics
editDhananjay Singh first became known as a student activist when he attended Tilak Dhari (TD) College in Jaunpur.[9] In the late 1990s, he studied at Lucknow University and graduated with a master's in political science, and also started gaining notoriety around this time for his involvement in gang activity.[3][10] His opposition to the Mandal Commission recommendations increased his political popularity.[9] Between 1996 and 2013, Singh had been charged four times under the Gangster Act.[11]
In October 1998, it was claimed by police that they killed Singh in an encounter in Bhadohi while he was robbing a petrol pump. However, he appeared in public alive four months later, leading to an investigation that filed cases on up to 34 officers for the false claim.[9]
In 2002 he was elected as MLA from Rari now Malhani constituency, Jaunpur district in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly from 2002 to 2009 as an independent candidate. In 2007, he was again elected as an MLA from the aforesaid constituency on the Janta Dal (United) ticket. In 2009 Indian General Elections, he was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) in the 15th Lok Sabha as a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) member.
Up to 2024, Singh has 41 criminal cases to his record, with ten still pending and others being dismissed or acquired, partially due to witnesses who later backed out.[9][2]
References
edit- ^ Centre, National Informatics. "Digital Sansad". Digital Sansad. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ a b "बाहुबली नेता धनंजय सिंह के जेल जाने से कैसे जौनपुर का लोकसभा चुनाव हुआ दिलचस्प?". BBC News हिंदी (in Hindi). 9 March 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Singh, Shri Dhananjay". Lok Sabha. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ "MLA's wife commits suicide". Hindustan Times. 12 September 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ "MLA's wife found dead, cops doubt suicide claim". The Indian Express. 13 September 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ Siddiqui, Pervez Iqbal (6 November 2013). "MP Dhananjay Singh's second wife doctor Jagriti fought polls". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ "देश के इस बड़े घराने की बेटी ने थामा भाजपा का दामन, दो साल पहले शाही शादी कर बटोरी थीं सुर्खियां" [The daughter of this big family of the country joined the BJP, had made headlines two years ago by marrying royal]. Patrika (in Hindi). Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ Vadlapatla, Sribala (25 September 2019). "Huzurnagar byelection: BJP likely to field ex-MLA's daughter". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Dutta, Prabhash K; Singh, Sarpan. "Bahubalis Of Uttar Pradesh: Dhananjay Singh". India Today. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ Srivastava, Rajiv (12 December 2011). "Meteoric fall of muscleman from Jaunpur". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ "Former BSP MP Dhananjay Singh arrested for kidnapping". The Times of India. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2021.