Warrant against UP Minister, police say case to be withdrawn

A local court has issued non-bailable warrant against UP Minister Yasir Shah and 32 others for allegedly taking policemen hostage following arrest of a village head.
Police, however, claimed that the case had already been withdrawn by the state government and they have not received the court order yet
The warrant was issued by Chief Judicial Magistrate Sravjeet Singh on Friday.
Singh directed police to arrest Shah, the Minister of State for Power in Uttar Pradesh government.
The incident dates back to 2007 when a village head from Shravasti was arrested by police with 28 kilogram of certain contraband.
Alleging that the village head was being falsely implicated, Shah along with other persons gheraoed Nanapara police station and allegedly held the policemen hostage.

Despite repeated summons, the minister failed to appear before the court. Superintendent of Police Ram Lal Verma today said that they have not received any such order so far.

He said that the case in question had already been withdrawn by the state government under section 321 of CrPC and procedure was being followed through senior prosecution officer.
Former district president of SP Ram Harsh, who is a co- accused with Shah, alleged that the case was lodged during BSP regime for political reasons and it had been withdrawn by the present government.
He claimed that the application to withdraw the case could not reach the court due to technical reasons.