New Delhi: After jailed gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari’s close aide, Sanjeev Maheshwari alias Jeeva, 48, was shot dead outside of a Lucknow court on Wednesday, opposition leaders have once again raised questions about the law and order situation in the state.Maheshwari was brought to court from Lucknow district jail on Wednesday to attend a hearing. As he was about to enter the courtroom, the assailant dressed like a lawyer opened fire, The Indian Express reported. Lawyers present reportedly caught the assailant, later identified as Vijay Yadav, and beat him up before handing him over to the police.“Things will get clearer after questioning him (the accused),” said Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar.The state government did not respond to the killing immediately. Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said, according to Hindustan Times, “I do not have this information but if anyone will be involved in such murders, police will take strict action against them, they will not be spared.”Several opposition leaders have asked how a man under police security could be shot dead in broad daylight, that too inside a court. This killing comes nearly two months after imprisoned gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed were shot as they were speaking to the media in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The duo was in police custody and they were taken to a hospital for a medical examination when gunmen who “posed as journalists” shot them from close range.Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav said, “Is it a democracy? The question is not who is being killed but the question is that one is being killed where security is the highest.”Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal questioned Union home minister Amit Shah about the situation. “How and Why: 41 people have been killed in police custody in UP (2017-2022),” he said. “…Amit ji: Are you not worried? We are!”How and Why :41 people have been killed in police custody in UP(2017-2022)Recently :Jiva shot dead in Lucknow court in police custodyAtiq and Ashraf shot dead while in police custodyTullu Tajpuria shot dead in TiharAmit ji :Are you not worried?We are !— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) June 8, 2023Meanwhile, Payal Maheshwari, Jeeva’s wife, moved the Supreme Court on Thursday seeking permission to attend her husband’s funeral. A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Rajesh Bindalsaid that the court will hear the matter and pass an order on Friday, Bar and Bench reported.