A case was filed by the Crime Branch of CID (CB-CID) on Friday in connection with the incident of arson at the Lucknow residence of the then president of Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee, Rita Bahuguna Joshi. The incident occurred on July 16, 2009 when the Bahujan Samaj Party Government was in power.
The State IG ( Administration), Prakash D. told journalists that two cases were filed at the Hussainganj police station by the CB-CID against police officers and employees in connection with the incident. The then SSP of Lucknow, Prem Prakash, the then SP (East ), Harish Kumar, the then Circle Officer of Hazratganj police station, B.S. Gabryal, are among the 15 and nine persons named in the two separate FIRs.
Mr. Prakash D. said the first case against 15 persons has been filed under Sections 365,342,218 of and 120(B) and in the second case nine persons have been named under Sections 457,365,442, 118 and 109 of IPC. They have been charged with filing fake challans.
Incidentally, the slow progress in the arson case was raised in the State Assembly by Dr. Joshi, who is now the Congress MLA from Lucknow Cantonment. Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Dr. Joshi said she had raised the issue in the House in February 2014, adding that the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mohammad Azam Khan had said that he would get it examined.
Stating that 13 months had passed, the Congress MLA wanted time-bound action in the case. While the CLP leader, Pradeep Mathur said action should be taken, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister stated that he will try to expedite it.
