Criminal proceedings against Uma Bharti: HC to hear plea on January 6

The Allahabad High Courtwill hear on January 6 next year a plea filed by former union minister Uma Bharti challenging the criminal proceedings initiatedagainst her in 2012 for allegedly obstructing a public servant from performing his duties.

Earlier on October 17, 2020, the high court haddirected the lower court to proceed with the trial in accordance with the law.

It was alleged that Bharti and her supporters, during a political event at Charkhari, Mahoba in 2012, forcibly stopped a public servant from discharging his duty and violated prohibitory orders.

Justice Suneet Kumar passed the order on Thursday, fixing the hearing for January 6 on a petitionfiled by the BJP leader and six others.

In the petition, it was claimed that Bharti and her supporters were falsely implicated in the case due to political rivalry as she was a candidate in the assembly elections.

An FIR was registered against Bharti and her supporters under Indian Penal Code sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) annd 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) among others at Police Station Charkhari of Mahoba district.