Warrant against UP minister in poll case

When the vehicle’s driver failed to present any order from the district administration for carrying election material,a case was registered at the Beniganj police station. Later,the police filed a chargesheet under Section 171-H (Illegal payments in connection with an election) on March 26,2002.

“We moved the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court seeking cancellation of proceedings. The court stayed the proceeding. In the final hearing around three months ago,the HC directed us to file a discharge application before the Hardoi court. We filed the same before Hardoi judicial magistrate but it was rejected. Later,we filed a revision in the court of district judge,which fixed December 22 for the hearing,” said Verma’s lawyer R N Gupta,adding he will appear before the court and get the NBW cancelled.

Government Counsel Phool Chand Kushwaha,however,said,“The accused or his lawyer never informed the court of Hardoi judicial magistrate that a discharge application was filed at the court of the district judge. Hence,during the proceedings at the judicial magistrate’s court,Sharma and his lawyer remained unavailable.”

“I don’t know how it happened as a revision petition was still pending at the district judge’s court,” said Verma.