Court Declares Swami Prasad Maurya Absconder in Harassment Case

A special MP-MLA court has declared former minister Swami Prasad Maurya and his daughter, ex-MP Sanghmitra Maurya, absconding in a case involving harassment and threats. The court has scheduled the next hearing for August 27. Despite repeated summonses and warrants, the accused failed to appear in court.

Accusations and Legal Proceedings

The complaint was filed by Deepak Kumar Swarnkar, who claims to be Sanghmitra's husband. He alleged that Sanghmitra married him a second time using Buddhist rituals before the 2019 parliamentary elections. According to Deepak, she promised to disclose their marriage after the elections but began harassing him with her father's help once she became an MP.

Earlier, the court found prima facie evidence against the five accused for attacking Deepak and conspiring to threaten his life. The Special Judge Alok Verma issued the order on July 5, which was made public on Friday. The court declared Maurya, Sanghmitra, and three others as absconders in this case.

Failed Attempts to Quash Proceedings

Maurya and Sanghmitra had approached the High Court to quash these proceedings. However, their petitions were rejected. Deepak, who claims to be a journalist, stated in his complaint that after Sanghmitra became an MP, she and her father started harassing him with police and private goons.

The court's decision underscores the seriousness of the allegations against Maurya and Sanghmitra. The next hearing will further address these charges and determine the course of action.

The case highlights ongoing legal challenges faced by political figures in India. It also raises questions about accountability and justice in such high-profile cases.