In a major respite to Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Kalraj Mishra, the Uttar Pradesh Government has decided to withdraw a case of violation of election Model Code of Conduct registered in Pilibhit during 2009 lok Sabha elections. The local court in Philibhit had repeatedly issued non-bailable warrant against the Union Minister in the above matter.
The Government order has been received by the Pilibhit district authorities and the same would be submitted in the Court very soon. District Magistrate of Philibhit Om Narain Singh has confirmed about the Government’s decision to withdraw case against the Union Minister. The hearing in the Kalraj Mishra case in the court is slated on May 21 next when the Government’s decision would be considered by the judge.
Surprisingly, the State Government had earlier withdrew cases of hate speech of 2009 against BJP MP Varun Gandhi in 2012 and he was released from all charges in 2013. The Chief Judicial Magistrate court of Abdul Qayyum had issued the warrant due to Mishra’s non-appearance in the court despite repeated summons. Such warrants were issued several times but Mishra did not appear before the court.
The FIR in this matter was lodged on March 28, 2009 when Mishra, along with his supporters including former MlA VK Gupta, allegedly stormed the court in Pilibhit and damaged Government property in spite of Section 144 (Unlawful Assembly) being in force. It was the occasion of the surrendering of then Pilibhit MP and BJP leader Varun Gandhi in a hate speech case before the court in Pilibhit during lok sabha elections 2009 when Kalraj Mishra and his supporters allegedly committed the offence.