Union Minister Ashwini Choubey’s son Arijit Shashwat moved the Patna High Court on Monday, 2 April, seeking the quashing of FIR filed against him for allegedly inciting communal violence in Bhagalpur. The court will hear the case later today.
Shashwat surrendered in Bhagalpur, Bihar, in connection with the violence case on Saturday, 31 March, but added that the case against him was “totally fake”. He was later sent to 14-day judicial custody.
I am going to surrender (in Bhagalpur violence case). We will also approach higher courts. The FIR against me is totally fake.Arijit Shashwat
Union Minister Ashwini Choubey said that a false case has been registered against his son.
False FIR has been registered against him by opposition parties. When his anticipatory bail got denied, he respected the court’s decision and surrendered himself. We demand impartial investigation by agencies of center and state.Ashwini Choubey
Earlier on Saturday, 31 March, a Bhagalpur court rejected the anticipatory bail plea of 38-year-old Shashwat. The court pronounced a one-line order that Shashwat's plea is rejected, his lawyer Viresh Kumar Mishra told PTI.
Shashwat had moved the court after an arrest warrant was issued against him a week earlier for inciting communal violence in Bhagalpur.
The arrest warrant was issued against Shashwat and eight others after they were named in an FIR filed at Nathnagar police station of Bhagalpur in connection with the clashes that broke out between members of two communities on 17 March.
Shashwat had unsuccessfully contested 2015 Assembly polls from Bhagalpur town on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket but lost to Congress's Ajit Sharma.
Heavy stone-pelting and even exchange of fire was witnessed during the violence in which several persons, including two policemen, were injured.
The clashes had followed a skirmish between residents of Nathnagar and those participating in a procession, taken out on 'New Year' as per the Hindu calendar. The procession was led by the BJP minister's son.
The locals had objected to playing of loud music during the procession.
The violence was also the first in a series of minor communal riots witnessed in several districts of the state.
Communal passions have have peaked in Aurangabad, Nalanda, Samastipur, Sheikhpura and Nawada districts following the Ram Navami festivities.
The Opposition has criticised the Nitish Kumar government as the administration has failed to arrest Shashwat.
(With inputs from ANI, PTI)
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