UP recommends CBI probe in Arjun Singh dowry case

Lucknow, July 31 (UNI) The Uttar Pradesh government has recommended a CBI probe into the dowry case against Union Human Resources Development minister Arjun Singh and his six family members.

Secretary (home) Renuka Kumar said here today that the government has sent a letter to the Centre recommending a CBI probe into the case. ''The letter was sent last night,'' she said.

''As the case involves dispute between two high profile families, it will be better to give it to the CBI,'' she said, adding that the Moradabad police was investigating the case.

On Sunday night, police had registered a dowry harassment case against Mr Singh and six others of his family under section 323, 324, 325, 498(A), 506 and 304 of the IPC. The cases were registered on the directives of the chief judicial magistrate at Chandausi police station in Moradabad district.

According to police, the case was lodged by the Raja of Naurali Manvendra Singh, father-in-law of Abhijit, grandson of Arjun Singh.

Abhijit's wife Priyanka Singh has charged that her in-laws were demanding a residential flat at Noida along with a luxury car as dowry and had even beaten her for not giving in to their demands.

Earlier on Friday, Chief Judicial Magistrate of Moradabad had ordered registering of criminal cases against Mr Singh, his wife, his son Abhimanyu Singh, daughter-in-law Beena Singh, sister-in-law Aradhana Singh, grandson Abhijit, brother-in-law Dilip Singh and daughter of Dilip, Mandakani Singh.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Arjun Singh has said in a statement in New Delhi that he had nothing to do with the case.

''I have nothing to do with dowry case nor have I attended the marriage of Abhijit,'' Mr Singh said.

UNI