Bailable warrant against Raja Bhaiyya

Jabalpur, Sep 27 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh High Court today issued bailable warrants against Uttar Pradesh Minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya and his cousin and MP Akshay Pratap Singh on a petition challenging their acquittal by a special POTA court in a case related to keeping banned weapons in their possession.

Admitting an appeal by Pratapgarh's Awadhesh Shukla, also a witness in the case, for consideration, a division bench comprising Justice Shravan Shankar Jha and Justice Sushma Srivastava issued bailable warrants of Rs 20,000 each and ordered the duo to appear before the court.

Petitioner's counsel Surendra Singh told the court that the then Uttar Pradesh's Mayawati Government had slapped POTA cases against Raja Bhaiyya, his cousin and his father Uday Pratap Singh after police seized A K 47 rifle and other weapons during a raid at their Bhadrimahal residence at Kunda on January 23, 2003.

After change of guard in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav withdrew POTA cases against trio on August 29, 2003.

However, the decision was quashed by the Supreme Court, which transferred the case to be heard in Madhya Pradesh, on November 10, 2005.

Upholding the Uttar Pradesh Government's decision to withdraw POTA cases against Raja Bhaiyya and his cousin, Jabalpur Special POTA Judge R C Mishra acquitted the duo but convicted Raja Bhaiyya's father Uday Pratap Singh on June 2.

UNI XC-PS 1740