Rabri, JD(U) minister file petitions for mutual compromise

In what may give credence to the buzz about merger of the RJD and the ruling JD(U), former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi and state minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh today filed petitions in a local court seeking closure of a case filed by him against the RJD leader.
The minister had filed the case under section 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against Rabri Devi for allegedly using abusive language against him during 2009 general elections.
Vijay Shankar Dube and Sirazul Haque, counsels of Singh and Rabri Devi respectively, confirmed that they have filed petitions on behalf of their clients in a district court for mutual compromise and closure of the case.

In view of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) being on leave, the matter will be taken up for hearing and disposal on February 7 next, the counsel duo said.
Singh had also appeared before a court on May 25, 2009, to explain his points before the judge and paraded four eyewitnesses to corroborate the charges against Rabri Devi.
Rabri Devi had subsequently filed a petition on August 31, 2009 pleading for exemption from personal appearance in the matter and the court had granted her conditional exemption on January 23, 2010 with the rider that she would appear before the court at the time of framing of charges and verdict in the said case.

The court had framed charges against the former chief minister on February 26, 2010 and since then the case was pending at the trial stage.