HC asks Maurya to appear before it in rioting case

The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday directed Swami Prasad Maurya,cabinet minister in the Mayawati government and the current state BSP president,to personally appear before the court and explain his conduct in connection with a case registered against him in 1987.

The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday directed Swami Prasad Maurya,cabinet minister in the Mayawati government and the current state BSP president,to personally appear before the court and explain his conduct in connection with a case registered against him in 1987.

The case pertained to rioting,trespass,attempt to murder and abduction and was registered at Dalmau police station in Rae Bareli district. Prasad had also tried to get the case withdrawn through the BSP government in 2011. However,the governments plea in this regard was rejected.

A division bench of Justices Amar Saran and Het Ram Yadav passed the order while hearing a criminal public interest litigation (CrPIL),filed by one Prafful Singh,a resident of Pratapgarh.

Counsel for petitioner,D S Khan,said: Our main contention was that the respondent (Maurya) has been an accused in the case,which was registered against him in 1987. But he has so far not put a single appearance in the court in connection with the matter. Also,he is legally supposed to be absconding because he has not responded to the summons of the court or the warrants. But he continues to enjoy public life.

The petition may come up for hearing again in the first week of July, said Khan.

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