Special MP/MLA court halts trial against Gauriganj MLA

The Special MP/MLA Court here on Wednesday stayed proceedings against Gauriganj MLA Rakesh Pratap Singh in a case of alleged assault on a local BJP leader inside a police station. Special Magistrate Shubham Verma on Wednesday ordered a halt to the trial after the defence submitted a copy of a directive from the Allahabad High Court.

Advocate Ravivansh Singh Pankaj, appearing for the defence, told the MP/MLA court that on March 17, the high court had stayed proceedings in the case until further orders on a petition filed by co-accused Prashant Singh.

The court has fixed April 16 as the next date of hearing.

The case pertains to an incident on May 10, 2023, when Deepak Singh, husband of municipal council chairperson Rashmi Singh, was allegedly assaulted inside the Gauriganj police station. An FIR was lodged against the Samajwadi Party MLA Rakesh Pratap Singh and 12 others. Following an investigation, police filed a chargesheet against the legislator and nine other accused, officials said.

Singh was expelled from the Samajwadi Party in 2025 for working against party principles. He is currently an Independent MLA from Gauriganj.