Arrest of Raj Babbar, kin stayed in land forgery case

Allahabad, Apr 25 (UNI) Allahabad High Court today stayed the arrest of cine star-turned-politician Raj Babbar and his family members in connection with a case lodged against them for alleged forgery in the purchase of five plots in Agra.

Babbar is an MP from Agra and was expelled from Samajwadi Party recently for ''anti-party activities.'' Uttar Pradesh advocate general S M A Kazmi made a statement before the court that the state government will not arrest Babbar and his kin till the completion of the probe.

A division bench comprising Justices Imtiaz Murtaza and Mithilesh Chaudhary also asked the state to file a counter affidavit within six weeks. The petitioner has also been asked to file-reply to the counter affidavit within two weeks.

An FIR was lodged at Sikandra police station, Agra, against Babbar and his kin by Additional Housing Commissioner, Virendra Pal Singh.

The case was lodged under sections 420, 465, 467, 471, 120 B, 109, 466, 468, 199 and 200 IPC.

The state, through its home secretary, SSP, SHO Sikandra and Dhirendra Pal Singh, administrator, Officers Cooperative Society Ltd (OCSL), Agra were arrayed as respondent in the writ petition.

The petitioners have prayed for quashing of the FIR on the ground that it was politically motivated.

The FIR was lodged against the petitioner and others on the basis of an inquiry report, wherein several irregularities were found against OCSL, Agra.

The report disclosed that against the OCSL scheme, five plots were purchased in the name of the petitioner, his mother, wife Nadira, daughter Juhi and son Arya.

UNI XC/VS RA DB2041