Charges framed against UP minister Raja Bhaiyya

Pratapgarh, Jan 22 (UNI) A court today framed charges against Uttar Pradesh Food and Civil Supplies Minister and an Independent MLA Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias 'Raja Bhaiyya' and his supporters.

The Minister appeared before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court Judge R B Maurya. He was later released on bail.

According to the prosecution, on April 11, 1993 -- Raja Bhaiyya and his supporters had staged a 'dharna', when police was taking his father Udai Pratap Singh to jail after a court hearing.

Later, an FIR was lodged against him and his supporters.

On January 8 last, a Kunda civil court had framed charges against Raja Bhaiyya and 18 others for issuing life threats to BSP leader Shiv Prakash Mishra during the election campaign on December 22, 1997.

Recently, Allahabad High Court had ordered a CBI inquiry into the act, conduct and activities of the officers posted at Kunda in 2003, when Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and other criminal cases were imposed on Raja Bhaiyya and his fatter during Mayawati's regime.

The order was passed on a writ petition filed by Deputy SP R S Pandey, who was posted at Kunda during that time.

However, after the fall of the Mayawati government, a case was registered against the petitioner and his family members under the 3/4 Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act on November 28, 2003.

Mr Pandey died in a road accident recently near the Allahabad High Court, when he was on his way to Ardh Kumbh Mela duty.

UNI