The Andhra Pradesh Government has withdrawn a 2003 criminal case against former union minister A. Narendra, who was expelled from the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and joined the ruling Congress in March this year.
The state Government on Tuesday night issued the order withdrawing the case of assaulting policemen during the Ganesh immersion procession here in 2003. This was done despite the police chief and public prosecutor recommending to the Government not to withdraw the case.
Mr. Narendra, who was expelled by the TRS in 2007 for his alleged involvement in a human trafficking scandal, had voted in favour of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government during the trust vote in the parliament last year.
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After his expulsion from TRS, Mr. Narendra floated a separate outfit, which he subsequently merged with the Congress.
Mr. Narendra was booked on Oct 10, 2003, for allegedly assaulting and obstructing policemen who had stopped the Ganesh immersion procession from passing in front of the historic Mecca Masjid.
A case of rioting, unlawful assembly, obstructing public servant, assault or use of criminal force on public servant and promoting enmity between different religious groups was registered against him at Hussainialam police station in the old city.
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The former MP from Medak, while requesting the government to withdraw the case, had alleged that it was a false case booked to damage his reputation.
Mr. Narendra, known for his close association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), was earlier with the BJP.
He quit the BJP in 2000 to float Telangana Sadhana Samiti (TSS) to struggle for a separate Telangana. He later merged the TSS with the TRS after Mr. Chandrasekhara Rao launched the party to fight for the same cause.
Mr. Narendra was re-elected from Medak in 2004 and served as union minister of state for rural development till 2007.