Nine cases of serious nature against Dy CM Maurya taken back, reveals RTI reply

PRAYAGRAJ, Feb 24 (HS): A total of nine cases of serious nature (four in Kaushambi and five in Prayagraj), registered against UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya have been taken back, according to a reply by SSP Prayagraj and SP Kaushambi to RTI activist Nutan Thakur.

During a candid discussion with HS, she confirmed the development and revealed of receiving a reply from the office of the SP, Kaushambi that four cases had been taken back, in one he had not been convicted, while information on two other cases was not fully available. The sections of the Indian Penal Code applicable to the cases which have been taken back include, 147 (punishment for rioting), 295A (deliberate attempt to outrage religious feelings), 420 (cheating and dishonesty), 504 (provocation to break public peace) and 302 (murder). All these cases have been taken back by the Prayagraj MP/MLA court.

One case filed under the Goonda Act against the BJP leader has been dismissed, while in another case, which also includes Section 302, he has been found innocent. Cases in which sufficient information is not found include those filed under 153A (promoting enmity between different religious groups) and 188 (disobedience for order promulgated by public servant).

All these cases were filed between 1996 and 2013 at different police stations in Sirathu, Kaushambi. In 2012-14, Maurya was elected MLA from Sirathu in Kaushambi.

During 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Phulpur parliamentary constituency in Prayagraj. He is currently a member of the UP Legislative Council and holds portfolios, among others, of food processing and public works department.  In a free-wheeling chat with HS, Thakur said, “It is extremely worrisome that the government has taken back such serious charges. However this is not the first time that this government has done so”. A copy of the RTI reply is in possession of HS. This is the third reply received by the activist, earlier she was notified on January 21 and February 18 about the status of cases registered against him.