FIR lodged against UP minister

Sambhal (UP), Jun 25: An

was today lodged against an

Cabinet minister under the Indian Penal Code following a court's directive, a senior

official said.

The FIR has been lodged against Fisheries and Public Enterprises Minister Iqbal Mehmood and some other persons under sections 395 (dacoity) and 397 (robbery or dacoity with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) of the IPC, said Superintendent of Police Piyush Srivastava. Srivastava said in addition to these sections, Mehmood has also been charged under section 120(B) of IPC (criminal conspiracy).

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Anjana Bharati had yesterday directed the police to register the case, he said. The petitioner in the case is a lawyer, Nutan Vijay. The SP said on May 24, Vijay had held a protest against the minister and burnt his effigy, after which the minister had lodged an FIR against him.

Vijay alleges that on May 25, the minister's supporters assaulted him, vandalised his house and looted valuables. He said he moved the court against this on May 28 and the court yesterday ordered the police to lodge an FIR in the case.

PTI