New Delhi, Jul 10 (IANS): The Supreme Court Tuesday rejected the appeal of former Lok Sabha member Anand Mohan who was convicted and awarded life sentence in the murder of Bihar's Gopalganj district magistrate G. Krishnaiah in December 1994.

Anand Mohan had challenged his conviction and award of life imprisonment by the Patna High Court.

Upholding the conviction awarding him life imprisonment, the apex court bench headed by Justice A.K. Patnaik in its judgement said that there was no merit in his plea. The apex court also rejected the Bihar government's plea seeking enhancement of punishment for Anand Mohan.

Anand Mohan and 35 others were accused of lynching Krishnaiah Dec 5, 1994. Anand Mohan and others were accused of instigating the mob that lynched Krishnaiah.

The trial court Oct 3, 2007 awarded death sentence to three accused, including Anand Mohan, and life sentence to four others. The trial court acquitted the other 29 accused.

On appeal, the Patna High Court upheld the conviction of Anand Mohan but commuted his death sentence to life imprisonment.