Lucknow, August 12, Mayawati became chief minister of Uttar Pradesh promising to put criminals behind bars. However, almost from the time she was sworn in, her government has been quietly withdrawing criminal cases against her party’s MLAs and MPs — from charges of kidnapping and election violence to rape and murder. Even in the case of Bijnore MLA Shahnawaz Rana, who was suspended from the party in June over an attempt to rape by his aides and relatives, the government has sought withdrawal of a case involving violence during the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.
The process began soon after Mayawati formed the government in May 2007 and is still on. Among the beneficiaries of this “whitewash”, being done in the name of “public interest”, are known history-sheeters such as D P Yadav, Dhananjay Singh and Jitendra Singh Babloo. Also among them is state BSP president Swami Prasad Maurya and some ministers.In the cases of some such as Dhananjay Singh and Babloo, the government has ordered withdrawal of more than one case. In several cases where the courts refused to accept that the withdrawal would serve public interest, the government has filed revision applications in higher courts.
Jitendra Singh Babloo, Bikapur MLA
A local court in Faizabad allowed withdrawal of a case of extortion and criminal intimidation against Babloo, a history-sheeter, on the government’s request in October 2008. The case was lodged by Brijesh Kumar Pandey of Gonda in 2006, accusing the MLA and one Vikram Singh of extorting money from him. In another case against the MLA, involving charges of kidnapping and criminal conspiracy, the government also ordered withdrawal, but a Lucknow court recently rejected the application. Babloo was allegedly involved in the kidnapping of a leading Faizabad-based businessman, Sanjay Jhunjhunwala, in June 2001, for whose release the family reportedly paid a huge ransom. The MLA has now filed a discharge application, citing lack of “direct evidence” against him. Incidentally, Babloo is one of the accused in the case of arson at the residence of state Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi.Swami Prasad Maurya, Panchayati Raj Minister
The state government wants withdrawn an attempt to murder case against Maurya, who is also UP president of the BSP. With a Rae Bareli court rejecting the application, it filed a revision plea in the court of the District Judge, which has directed the lower court to again consider the case. It was a head constable attached with the Fire Department, Ram Surat Upadhyay, who had lodged an FIR in 1987 against Maurya and others under various sections, including attempt to murder.
Dhananjay Singh, Jaunpur MP
In November 2008, a local court in Varanasi allowed withdrawal of two cases under the UP Gangsters Act against the ruling party MP, dating back to 2002-03 and both lodged in Jaunpur. A history sheeter, Singh’s election from Jaunpur had been controversial, with one of his rival candidates found dead, hanging from a tree.Shahnawaz Rana, Bijnore MLA
Rana is accused of attacking an election observer on May 10, 2004, during the Lok Sabha elections, and booked for assault. A court in Kairana in Muzaffarnagar rejected a government application for withdrawal of the case. Rana has since moved the high court.
Kadir Rana, Muzaffarnagar MP
Shanawaz Rana’s uncle Kadir’s case is related to his arrest. The MP and 20 others were booked in connection with arson and rioting following Shahnawaz’s arrest, and charged with attempt to murder and rioting. A Muzaffarnagar court has rejected a government application for withdrawal of the criminal case against Kadir — accused of gheraoing the DM’s residence, pelting stones, and setting on fire a police jeep, six private vehicles, a roadways bus and a police outpost.D P Yadav, Sahswan MLA
The father of murder convict Vikas Yadav and a history sheeter himself, the BSP leader is facing various charges, including attempt to murder. The government moved a Ghaziabad court for withdrawal of the criminal case against Yadav, and since the court rejected its application, has moved the high court. Yadav has been accused by Ajay Katara of lacing his drink with poison. The Ghaziabad police, which investigated the case, filed a chargesheet against seven persons, including Yadav.
Yogendra Sagar, Bilsi MLA
The state government has directed the Badaun district administration to seek withdrawal of a rape case against Sagar, though an application has not yet been filed in the court. The case dates back to May 1, 2008, when a 24-year-old woman went missing and was recovered after 17 days from Muzaffarnagar district. While the woman initially said she had eloped with a youth, she later said she had made her statement under duress and claimed she had been kidnapped and raped by the MLA and his associates Meenu Sharma and Tejendra Sagar. “The Allahabad High Court has stayed the proceedings against Yogendra Sagar,” said the MLA’s advocate Lalit Mathur. As for the move to withdraw the case, he argued that since the case was based on an individual’s complaint, the government could not withdraw it.Dara Singh Chauhan, Ghosi MP
Rajendra Kumar Mohammadabad MLA, Ghoora Ram Rasra MLA
The procceedings in a case involving rioting, causing hurt, assault on public servant, violation of the Arms Act and sundry other charges against Chauhan, Kumar and Ram stand stayed. The Allahabad High Court stayed the same in response to a revision application by the government, after its application to withdraw the charges against the three BSP leaders, and 10 other accused, was rejected by the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge in Mau. The case dates back to August 1998 when Chauhan was a member of the Rajya Sabha. The accused are charged with attacking a city magistrate who had asked them to vacate a PWD guest house for a visiting minister.