Petitioner granted 4 weeks' in Mayawati criminal assault case

New Delhi, Nov 20 (UNI) The Supreme Court today granted four weeks' to the petitioner seeking action against those involved in the criminal assault of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati in Lucknow on June 2, 1995.

The former chief minister had locked herself in a room to save herself from the assault by the supporters of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav who was also the chief minister of the state at the time of the offence.

Police officers from other districts were also involved in humiliating and intimidating the BSP supremo who was saved by an intervention of a senior police officer present on the spot.

A bench comprising Justices K G Balakrishnan and D K Jain granted four weeks' time to the petitioner Barkhu Ram, a BSP supporter to file rejoinder to the counter affidavit filed by senior Samajwadi Party leader Beni Prasad Verma , a close associate of Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav and presently a minister in his government.

Respondent Verma has denied the allegation made in the petition.

The petitioner has also appealed for a CBI inquiry into the incident alleging that it was an attempt on the life of Ms Mayawati.

Senior counsel Harish Salve appearing for the respondent opposed the appeal of the petioner for grant of time alleging that the petitioner was not interested in pursuing the matter but was trying to take political advantage in view of the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state slated to be held by the end of February 2007.

UNI AKS/SC MS RP DB1817