Govt orders cases against Dutt be dropped

The prosecuting officers in these districts admitted having received the government’s instructions,but they have not filed withdrawal applications in courts because the Allahabad High Court had stayed proceedings in all three cases on petitions filed by Dutt for quashing the FIRs.

In April 2009,three FIRs were lodged against Dutt under different sections of IPC and the Representation of People Act. The police investigated the case and filed chargesheets. The local courts in the three districts issued summons to Dutt who,in turn,approached the high court.

Last year,the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court stayed the proceedings in the cases filed in Pratapgarh and Barabanki. In May,the Allahabad High Court stayed the proceedings in Mau.

The SP had decided to field Dutt from Lucknow in the Lok Sabha elections. However,the Supreme Court did not give him permission to contest elections since he had been convicted in a case. The SP then fielded Nafisa Ali and Dutt decided to campaign for the SP.

While addressing a public meeting in Pratapgarh,Dutt allegedly made objectionable remarks against the then chief minister Mayawati. The police lodged an FIR against him.

In the same month,at a public rally in Mau,Dutt reportedly made an inflammatory speech and referred to a particular religion. He also allegedly claimed that he was ‘victimised’ because his mother was a Muslim. Again a case was lodged. The third case was registered for a speech Dutt made on April 19 at Dariyabad in Barabanki district.

Last May,Dutt’s advocate Kunwar Siddharth Singh filed an application before the state government requesting for the withdrawal of the cases,saying they were politically motivated.