Lucknow: In the latest development in the Atiq Ahmed murder case, his lawyer has revealed that the gangster-politician had written a letter to UP CM Yogi Adityanath and CJI DY Chandrachud to be given to them if he was assassinated, media reports said.

His lawyer Vijay Mishra has revealed that the letter is in a sealed envelope and he is not aware of its contents, according to a report in the media.

Mishra said the letter was not with him and is being sent by some other person to the addressees, the report added.

Atiq Ahmad (60) and his brother Ashraf, both incarcerated in connection with Umesh Pal murder case, were shot dead on Saturday by three men posing as journalists in close range while being taken for medical examination to Prayagraj’s Colvin Medical College and Hospital in police custody.

The shooting occurred hours later the last rites of Ahmad's son Asad, who was gunned down in a police encounter in Jhansi on April 13, were performed here.

The news of Atiq’s letter comes a day after, his lawyer told news agency ANI that Ashraf—Atiq’s brother also assassinated with him—had told that the letter contains the name of a senior police official who had boasted the brothers would be taken out of jail and eliminated.

Mishra told ANI that Ashraf did not reveal the name of the police official as the information could land him trouble.

Ashraf had told him a 'sealed envelope' would be delivered to the chief justices of the Supreme Court and the Allahabad High Court.

A copy will also be sent to the chief minister of UP, he said.

The shooting took place in front of media cameras amid a heavy police cover. The video of the horrific killing went viral on social media. The perpetrators did not try to escape and were apprehended right after the incident.

The Uttar Pradesh government has established a three-member judicial committee to probe the murder of Atiq Ahmed, amidst intense criticism of the incident. The state police, which has also faced harsh criticism, will also investigate the case.

The reports are due in two months’ time.

A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking an independent inquiry into 183 encounters that have taken place in Uttar Pradesh in the past six years, including the recent killings of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his son Asad.

The plea also challenges the appointment of an inquiry committee by the UP government, which has been criticised for its handling of the case.

Atiq Ahmed and his son Asad were among the accused in Umesh Pal, who was murdered in February. Pal was a witness to the murder of a Bahujan Samaj Party leader Raju Pal in 2005.