Staff of UP minister destroy files; police seal office

Lucknow, May 11 (UNI) Police today sealed the office of senior Samajwadi Party leader and state Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs minister Mohd Azam Khan after his staff tore into pieces and burnt several files there.

Director General of Police Girdhari Lal Sharma said he would look into the incident even as he sent senior police officials to the scene to take stock of the situation.

Meanwhile, the Raj Bhawan denied reports that the Governor had ordered the sealing of the office of the outgoing minister.

The incident of destruction of files came hard on the heels of the decision of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav to tender his resignation following the defeat of his party in the assembly elections.

A personal secretary of the minister told reporters that he had been asked by the minister himself to destroy the files. A pile of documents was lying on the verandah of the office of the cabinet minister in the Assembly building here.

It was not immediately known what type of files were burnt or removed from the office.

Meanwhile, the DGP said he would look into the incident.

Secretariat officials were not immediately available for comment.

Mr Azam Khan has retained his seat from Rampur in the state elections.

UNI