Former Left Minister arrested in Bengal

Behrampore, Apr 11 (UNI) Former Left Front Minister Wahed Reja was arrested today from Kandi area of Murshidabad district for allegedly outraging the modesty of a woman.

The former CPI Minister was charged on a specific complaint by the woman with Kandi police station.

Several complaints of bribery and forgery were also earlier lodged against Reja, who served during the fifth tenure of the Left Front government, Superintendent of Police Neeraj Singh said adding Reja was a political fugitive for the past few years.

Reja, who became an MLA by defeating Congress leader Atish Sinha a decade ago, left the CPI later and was now canvassing for a Congress-backed Independent candidate, pitted against Mr Sinha, the local MLA.

Secretary of district Congress Khairul Khondekar charged the CPI(M) with hatching a "conspiracy" against Wajed and termed the allegation as false and baseless.

Wajed, who was produced in Kandi Sub-Divisional court, was remanded in judicial custody by Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashish Nath til April 25.

UNI XC SJC KLC1727