Bhagalpur violence: Arijit Shashwat moves bail plea, court seeks case diary

Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey's son Arijit Shashwat, who is evading arrest in a case of communal violence, has moved a bail plea in a court here, which directed the police to produce the case diary.

The order was passed by Additional district judge Kumud Ranjan Singh, who is officiating as the district judge, on the bail petition of Shashwat, son of senior BJP leader and Union health minister Choubey.

The court directed the police to produce the case diary by the next date of hearing on March 31, according to the petitioner's counsel Veeresh Mishra.

Shashwat has been named, along with eight others, in an FIR lodged in connection with a clash in the Nathnagar police station area of Bhagalpur district on March 17.

Violence had erupted after people belonging to minority community objected to loud music being played during a procession taken out on the occasion of the new year as per the Hindu calendar. The procession was being led by Shashwat.

A court issued arrest warrant against Shashwat last Saturday following an application by the Nathnagar police.

Arguing for Shashwat, Mishra submitted, "No provocative or objectionable act took place during the procession which was taken out to celebrate the Hindu new year. The petitioner is a responsible citizen."