Probe begins into UP torture case

LUCKNOW, JULY 14: Police on Friday began investigations into the alleged incident of confinement and torture of an oil tanker driver and cleaner by Uttar Pradesh Minister Raja Ram Pandey after both sides filed complaints against each other.

In the complaint filed on Thursday night at the Gomti Nagar police station here, the driver of the tanker Baikunth Nath Rai said he and the cleaner were severely beaten by the Minister, his driver and two others during the alleged confinement. He said the four also threatened to "eliminate" them.

The Minister’s driver lodged a counter FIR accusing the tanker driver and the cleaner of hitting Pandey’s new car when he was travelling in it.

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Rai and the cleaner had accused the Minister of keeping them in confinement for four days during which they were severly beaten up. The Minister had already denied the charge.

The incident came two days after a similar charge against a Bihar Minister who was subsequently dismissed.