UP Govt. moves to court seeking bail cancellation of accused in Muzaffarnagar riots

The Uttar Pradesh Government on Tuesday moved court to seek bail cancellation of 50 accused in Muzaffarnagar riots.

The Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP) government has appealed in High Court and in district court for cancellation of bail of 50 Muzaffarnagar riots accused, including local politicians, alleging that they could try to disturb peace during ongoing elections.

Additional Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh, Zafaryab Jilani, said it was not a sudden development.

"The state counsel moves for the cancellation (of bail). If the Sessions Court has granted (bail) then cancellation will be moved in the high court. It is not a new development the procedure was going on for the last few months. Now it has been filed," Jilani said.

Meanwhile, distancing himself from the development, Law Minister Kapil Sibal said, "I don't want to comment on what Mulayam Singh wants or he doesn't want. If bail is to cancelled that has to be done by court, and if they so what, they should move an application."

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesmen Mukhtar Abas Naqvi said it was an act of desperation for electoral gains.

"One thing is clear whether it is the Congress or the Samajwadi Party or the Bahujan Samaj Party or any other party, we consider their desperation as a sign of eminent defeat. Due to their eminent defeat, they have a common agenda that is Modi bashing," Naqvi said.

The accused include legislator of Bharatiya Janata Party, Sangeet Som and Suresh Rana and a lawmaker of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Kadir Rana.