Ranchi, May 13 (IANS): A Ranchi court Monday convicted Jharkhand Congress legislator Sawana Lakra and three others of murder.

Lakra, 70, was an accused in the murder of 21-year-old Avinash Tiwari, who was reportedly in love with the niece of the Congress legislator.

Tiwari, a resident of Garwah district, went missing April 24, 2011. He had left for Ranchi, and was allegedly abducted by the legislator's men.

Tiwari's father had alleged that his son had been abducted by the legislator.

Tiwari's bullet-riddled body was found April 27, 2011, in Khuti district of the state.

During investigations, police found that the legislator was behind the abduction and murder of Avinash Tiwari.

Besides the Congress legislator, his bodyguard and driver were also among those accused in the case. The court Monday also convicted the driver and bodyguard.

The quantum of sentence will be pronounced May 15.

Lakra has been in jail for the last two years.

Hearing the judgment, Lakra told reporters: "I am innocent. I will move the high court. I have full faith in the judiciary."