Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his MP wife Dimple, were stuck inside a lift in the Vidhan Bhawan building for about 24 minutes thereby exposing a major security lapse to a VVIP covered with Z-plus security.
In a hurried response, the state government suspended concerned PWD officials including the Assistant Engineer and the Junior Engineer responsible for maintainence of the lift.
Besides, Estate Officer, Brij Raj Singh Yadav lodged an FIR the Thyreson Group which is responsible for maintenance of the lift at Hazratganj police station. The case was registered under the sections 337and 287 of the IPC.
Meanwhile, Speaker of UP Assembly, Mata Prasad Pandey and the state government also ordered separate probes into the incident.
As per reports, Akhilesh Yadav, his wife Dimple entered the lift on the first floor after attending a Bal Sansad function at Vidhan Bhawan. The couple was accompanied by CM's Chief Security Officer, Shiv Kumar and lift man Sanjay Kumar Saxena. But all four got stuck in the lift, exclusively meant for the CM, for about 24 minutes.
"The VVIPs were brought out from the lift by forcefully opening the lift door by Vidhan Sabha workers," sources said.
Meanwhile, a senior official of engineering section of the PWD said that the lift was stuck as its gear jammed due to high voltage after a very short power failure while the CM and others were coming down.
"liftman Sanjay Kumar Saxena tried his level best to fix the snag but failed as a result the elevator got stuck between the first and the second floors. The CM's chief security officer then informed his staff through a protometer (walkie- talkie) after which the technical and other staff rushed to rescue the CM and his wife and got them out," said he.
Eyewitnesses maintained that the lift was opened by the help of screw drivers and iron rods. CSO, Shiv Kumar also helped the people to bring out the CM and the others. " The CM and his wife smiled as they were brought out of the lift on the ground floor and they immediately walked outside towards their car and left," eyewitnesses disclosed.
Senior officials including Chief Secretary, DGP, DM and SSP of lucknow along with other officials rushed to the spot and were investigating the matter.
Meanwhile, the CM also tweeted about the incident - "Got struck in a lift in Vidhan Sabha for a while. Safe and sound now by Gods grace and wishes of well wishers."
He tweeted a second time saying - "Action to be taken against those in-charge of maintainence of the lift."
The CM enjoys a Z-plus security cover and hence the incident is being seen as a serious security lapse.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs minister Md. Azam Khan thanked the Almighty God tha nothing untoward happened. "When the entire machinery of the country is not functioning, well then this is just a lift. But still the matter will be probed," he told reporters.