Supreme Court issues notice to UP Govt, Minister

New Delhi, June 19 : The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh government and Minister for Women Welfare and Culture Rajender Singh Rana on a transfer petition alleging that the latter was indulging in extortion by using his official position.

D K Garg, counsel for petitioner Arun Rana, contended before the vacation bench comprising Justices A R Lakshmanan and Altamas Kabir that Mr Rana was indulging in extortion while holding the position of a Minister in the State Cabinet, and under such circumstances a free and fair trial of the case was not possible in Uttar Pradesh.

Mr Garg also said Mr Rana, who is also the circle officer, Deoband district, Sharanpur, illegally took Rs 3.2 lakh from his client and also forcibly snatched his jeep. The car has been in his illegal possession ever since.

The court was told that the Minister was also indulging in illegal activities while awarding contracts under the MPLAD scheme for which he was collecting 25-45 per cent from each of the contractor.

Earlier, the apex court had directed the petitioner to file a complaint against the Minister for police investigation under section 156(3) of the CrPC in a magisterial court.

UNI