Lucknow: Bollywood blockbuster ‘Dhurandhar-2′ has a character named “Atif Ahmad’, purportedly based on slain Uttar Pradesh gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad.
Referring to this, former Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Pooja Pal has alleged that Atiq Ahmad financed the Akhilesh Yadav-led party in the state.
The movie has brought to light the truth of the connection between Atiq and the SP, she said. Pooja’s husband, ex-MLA Raju Pal, was murdered in broad daylight in 2005. Atiq was accused in the murder.
Under the canopy of the SP, Atiq was hollowing the country from within, the former MLA claimed.
“Atiq was not only my culprit. He murdered my husband and spoiled my life. He had also spoiled the lives of thousands of families. Atiq committed murders, damaged society by turning youth into criminals through drug trade,” she added.
“Under the protection of Samajwadi Party, Atiq and his gang started a fake note operation and played with the security of our nation….Samajwadi Party was aware of all the activities of Atiq Ahmad,” Pooja further alleged, as reported by Republic TV.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav did not like the investigations against Atiq as he was a “huge financier” of the party, she alleged. Yadav was also unhappy with the murder of the gangster, Pooja added.
“That’s why [SP MP] Ram Gopal Yadav is saying that when they come to power, Atiq’s murder will be avenged. Though these words are of Ram Gopal Yadav, but the thoughts are of Akhilesh Yadav The whole system of the party works for the protection of murderers and criminals,” she claimed.
Pooja, who was expelled from the SP in 2025 for praising UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath for delivering justice to her after Atiq’s killing, went on to say that Adityanath is a “Dhurandhar CM”, who has ended the reigns of gangsters like Atiq Ahmad and Mukhtar Ansari in the state.
Had the SP been in power today, she would have been killed by now, Pooja claimed.
The SP, meanwhile, has criticised ‘Dhurandhar-2’, calling it a “paid propaganda”. In an apparent attack against the ruling dispensation, Akhilesh said: “You’re making films by spending money to defame other parties; I think too much money has reached these people.”
In 2023, Atiq was shot dead on live TV by three assailants while being taken for medical examination by the police.
