On Wednesday (June 07), Sanjeev Jeeva, a notorious gangster hailing from western Uttar Pradesh, was shot dead outside the court premises in Lucknow.
Maheshwari had been taken to court for a hearing in a criminal case when the accused unleashed gunfire, targeting him.
The police have detained the assailant, who had disguised himself as a lawyer.
Jeeva, a close associate of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, had been linked to the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai.
Both Mukhtar Ansari and his brother, Afzal Ansari, were implicated as conspirators in the same case.
Sanjeev Maheshwari, known as Jeeva, was born in Adampur village, located in the Nagar Kotwali area of Shamli district in Uttar Pradesh. During the 1990s, Jeeva embarked on a path of criminality.
Initially, he joined the ranks of various gangs, including the Nazim gang in Haridwar. However, Jeeva eventually formed his own gang in collaboration with Satendra Barwala.
It was during this period that he crossed paths with Mukhtar Ansari and began operating his gang under Ansari's protection.
Under Ansari's protection, Jeeva's gang operated extensively across the regions of Eastern and Western Uttar Pradesh, actively engaging in various criminal activities.
Sanjeev Jeeva's name first surfaced in relation to the assassination of BJP leader Bramha Dutt Dwivedi in February 1997. Subsequently, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement in this case.
Jeeva's name resurfaced once again, this time in connection with the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanad Rai. Following his arrest by the Delhi Police for his alleged role in the crime, Jeeva was incarcerated in Lucknow jail.
Even from behind bars, Jeeva continued his illicit pursuits, engaging in activities such as extortion and land grabbing. Exploiting his position, he enticed numerous young men into his criminal network by enticing them with promises of wealth and illegal property.
Furthermore, it is noteworthy that Jeeva's wife, Payal, contested the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election on an RJD ticket. Unfortunately, she faced defeat in the polls, marking a setback in her political aspirations.