Controversial Uttar Pradesh [Images] minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya and Samajwadi Party MP Akshay Pratap Singh have been acquitted by a district court in two cases of assault and attempt to murder registered in 1995 and 1996.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Naresh Kumar, who pronounced the verdict Wednesday, acquitted Food and Civil Suppplies Minister, and the SP MP and nine others for lack of evidence. According to the prosecution, Raja Bhaiyya and others had assaulted two persons -- Govind Pandey and Brijesh Mishra � with the intention to kill. The magistrate observed that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond all reasonable doubt which led to their acquittal.