Chhattisgarh govt to withdraw case against MP CM

Raipur, Sep 22 (UNI) The Chhattisgarh government has set in motion a process to withdraw cases against BJP leaders, including Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, registered nearly five years back in connection with an agitation during the erstwhile Congress regime.

''We have already moved the appropriate court for withdrawal of such cases,'' state Law Minister Brij Mohan Agrawal told UNI tonight.

He said the applications for withdrawal of cases, arising out of political agitation, were pending before the court. ''We are awaiting a decision,'' he added.

The BJP government, which surged to power in the December 2003 assembly election, earlier decided to withdraw the cases registered against its party leaders and workers during the previous Congress regime in connection with agitation by the BJP when it was in the opposition.

A few days back Addl CJM Satyabhama issued bailable warrants against Mr Chouhan, two Chhattisgarh ministers and 57 others in connection with a case registered in 2001.

Police registered a case under different sections of the IPC for participating in a gherao of the official residence of the then chief minister Ajit Jogi.

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