Minister 145;booked146; for extortion

A group of truck drivers resorted to a road blockade and violent protests in Doriganj of Saran district on Sunday evening alleging that Bihar Minister of State for Transport Ajit Kumar Singh and associates had extorted money from them. Reports said an FIR has been lodged in this connection at the Doriganj police station against the minister, his private assistant and unknown persons on the complaint of a driver.

But, when contacted, Saran SP Sanjay Singh said no FIR had been lodged against the minister. 8220;An FIR has been lodged against the minister8217;s PA and two other unknown persons,8221; the SP said. Local reporters however qouted the station clerk having accepted that an FIR has been lodged against the minister as well.

The minister, who was in Chhapra, held a press conference and termed the allegations as baseless. He said no such incident had taken place. But reports said his PA was travelling in his vehicle and could not have resorted to extortion without the minister8217;s nod.