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BSP legislator held for arson in UP

LUCKNOW: In a surprise move, the Criminal Investigation Department late on Thursday night arrested the Bahujan Samaj Party MLA from Bikapur in Faizabad, Jitendra Singh alias Babloo, and Uttar Pradesh Ganna Kisan Sansthan chairman Intezar Abdi alias Bobby, both prime accused in the case related to arson at the Lucknow residence of UP Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi on the night of July 15, 2009. Both have been sent to jail.

While senior police officers here said the arrests followed “clinching” evidence gathered by the CB-CID pointing to their involvement in the crime and claimed that rule of law had prevailed, the police action coming as it does almost two years after the incident has been dismissed by the Congress. Ms. Joshi termed it “eyewash” and demanded a CBI inquiry into the case.

Special DG (Law & order) Brij Lal said on Friday that the two were arrested after the CB-CID team found evidence of their involvement in the crime. He said 251 witnesses had been interrogated by the investigating agency.

It was alleged by the Congress that the two ruling party functionaries led a mob of BSP supporters who ransacked Ms. Joshi's residence at 45 Sarojini Naidu Marg, just a stone's throw from Chief Minister Mayawati's office, and set afire four vehicles parked inside as well as a portion of the house. Ms. Joshi was away at the time and only a couple of domestics were there when the mob laid siege to the premises. The late night arson was reportedly in reaction to a comment made against Chief Minister Mayawati by Ms. Joshi at a public meeting in Moradabad on July 15, 2009.

Following her remarks, an FIR was lodged at the Majhola police station in Moradabad district against the UPCC president under Sections 153/153A/504/505(2) and 509 IPC read with Section 7 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act and Section 3 (1) of the SC, ST Act.

A local BSP worker, Abdi, was “rewarded” with the post of UP Kisan Ganna Sansthan chairman with the status of a Minister of State in August 2009. Two senior ministers are understood to have lobbied for him.

Of late there were reports of Abdi and the arrested BSP MLA hobnobbing with Peace Party president Mohammad Ayub.

Ms. Mayawati had earlier denied re-nomination to Jitendra Singh from Bikapur for the 2012 Assembly polls.

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