Absconding minister met MP DGP, CMO officer, alleges Congress

Leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Ajay Singh today sought Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's resignation, alleging that he was shielding his cabinet colleague Lal Singh Arya who has been named in a murder case and is on the run.
"It was reported that the minister (Arya), who is an accused in a murder case and against whom a court has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant, is meeting top officials," Singh said here.
Arya is in charge of 'happiness department' of MP government, created on the lines of a similar ministry in neighbouring country Bhutan.
"He (while on the run) has met the state's director general of police (DGP) and the chief minister's officer on- special-duty (OSD) in Chouhan's chamber's ante-room in the Mantralaya. This is not possible without (Chouhan's) consent," Singh told reporters.

He also shot off a letter to the chief minister on the issue.
Arya's meeting with top officials appeared to be part of a criminal conspiracy to save him, the leader of opposition alleged.

Singh termed police's efforts to trace Arya and a recent raid at the minister's official residence as a mere drama.
He sought to know whether the chief minister will take action against the DGP and OSD in the matter.
On December 12, a team of Bhind district police visited Lal Singh Arya's house here to arrest him, but he wasn't there.
On December 5, Special Judge Yogesh Gupta in Bhind district had issued an NBW against Arya, directing police to execute the order by December 19, the next hearing.

Arya is one of the accused in the case related to the murder of then Congress MLA from Gohad, Makhanlal Jatav, who was shot dead on April 13, 2009 during the general elections.
Last month, Gwalior bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court turned down Arya's anticipatory bail plea.
Before issuing the NBW, the Bhind court had issued several bailable warrants against the minister, but he failed to appear.