Union Minister Mohammad Fatmi surrenders in court, gets bail

Darbhanga, Bihar, Aug 18 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development Mohammad Ali Ashraf Fatmi today surrendered before the chief judicial magistrate's (CJM) court here in connection with his alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct during the 2005 Bihar Assembly elections and was granted bail.

Mr Fatmi had surrendered before CJM Vijay Kumar Srivastava following rejection of his petition for revision by the district and sessions judge in connection with the case.

After his surrender before the court, Mr Fatmi moved a petition seeking bail in the case.

After hearing the arguments of the minister and that of the prosecution, the CJM granted bail to Mr Fatmi and directed him to furnish two bail bonds of Rs 5,000 each.

Later, the Union Minister was released on bail after furnishing the bail bonds.

In his petition before the district judge, the minister had prayed for quashing the cognizance taken by the CJM.

Earlier, a case for the alleged violation of the model code of conduct was lodged at Hayaghat police station in Darbhanga on November 22, 2005 after Mr Fatmi and many of his party supporters were found campaigning in a motorcade even after the expiry of the stipulated time for electioneering during the 2005 Bihar Assembly elections.

After the chargesheet in the case was submitted by police in the CJM's court on May eight this year and he had taken the cognizance on May 22, Mr Fatmi had moved the District and Sessions Court for quashing the order taking cognizance of the chargesheet.

UNI