Police sent to arrest MP Minister returns empty-handed

A Bhind Police team on Tuesday went to Madhya Pradesh Minister Lal Singh Arya's Bhopal residence to execute non-bailable warrants in the murder case of Congress MLA Makhanlal Jatav but returned empty-handed since he was not at home.

Bhind Superintendent of Police Prashant Khare told IANS that a sub-inspector and two policemen went to the General Administration Minister's residence but returned after preparing a 'panchnama' or a document that involves local police's confirmation regarding their visit.

Jatav was shot dead on April 13, 2009, during campaigning in the assembly elections.

Special court Judge Yogesh Kumar Gupta had, on May 19, issued non-bailable warrants against Arya after Jatav's son Ranvir Jatav, a former MLA, filed an application to make the Minister an accused even though Madhya Pradesh Police and the Central Bureau of Investigation did not make him so.

After the Minister moved the Gwalior bench of the Jabalpur High Court, it ordered that the decision on Ranvir Jatav's application be taken only after hearing out Arya.

The Supreme Court, while hearing a special writ petition of Arya, set aside the High Court direction on hearing Arya before deciding on Ranvir Jatav's plea by the trial court.

--IANS

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