Criminal case against MP Speaker, ministers

Jabalpur, May 24 (UNI) Dismissing a revision petition, the District and Sessions Court today ordered continuous hearings from June 4 in a criminal case registered 23 years back against present Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker Ishwardas Rohani, state Health Minister Ajay Vishnoi and Fisheries Minister Moti Kashyap.

Additional Sessions Judge Alok Verma struck down the plea submitted by the state government.

A demonstration was organised in front of Belbag Police Station on August 23, 1984 in protest against the arrest of former Minister Onkar Tiwari in connection with a BJP agitation. According to prosecution, the accused Chintaman Sahu, Kashyap, Vishnoi and Rohani instigated demonstrators against police. Irate BJP workers ransacked the police station and several personnel were injured in stone-pelting.

No hearing took place as the accused did not appear in court and the case remained pending for two decades. In 2003, Rohani, Vishnoi and Kashyap were declared ''absconders'' and warrants were issued as they did not appear despite several notices.

The trio occupied constitutional posts, appeared in court on May 22, 2006 and were granted bail.

The Home Department decided to withdraw the case and submitted an application in the court of Judicial Magistrate Rajeev Karmhe who dismissed the plea on April 5 and framed charges.

The trio would have to be present at subsequent hearings.

UNI