Lucknow: Dreaded criminal of western Uttar Pradesh Sanjeev Maheshwari alias Jeeva was shot dead by an assailant inside the district court premises in Kaisarbagh area of the state capital on Wednesday, police sources said here.

Police sources told UNI that Jeeva was shot dead by the assailant, who came in the guise of an advocate, while being taken to the court in connection with a case.

"The assailant reportedly fired five to six rounds," they said.

Sources told UNI that Jeeva was taken to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him dead.

"The assailant has been nabbed by the lawyers and the police while he was attempting to flee,"they said.

Unconfirmed reports said that a girl sustained bullet injury in the incident.

Sources said that Jeeva was a dreaded Gangster of western UP, who had links with mafia-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari.

(With UNI inputs)