Allahabad HC Refuses To Cancel Case Against SP Leader Swami Prasad Maurya For Burning Copies Of Shr Ramcharit Manas

Lucknow, November 1 (TNA) Taking a grim view in the matter of burning copies of Shri Ramcharit Manas, the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court has refused to cancel the case registered in Pratapgarh district against Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Swami Prasad Maurya. After the court order, the way has been cleared for the trial against Maurya.

The court said that after looking at the charge sheet, it is clear that there is enough evidence on file to conduct trial against Maurya, hence no relief can be given to him at this stage. The court believed that public representatives should stay away from acts that disturb social harmony. This order was passed by the single bench of Justice Subhash Vidyarthi.

Swami Prasad had filed a petition challenging the charge sheet filed after the investigation of the FIR registered in Kotwali Nagar of Pratapgarh and the order of the lower court to take cognizance of the crimes for prosecuting him. On behalf of Maurya, it was said that the FIR was lodged against him for political reasons, in the analysis of which no evidence has been found against him, hence there is no justification for trial against him.

In this case, an FIR was lodged against Swami Prasad and SP MLA from Raniganj Dr RK Verma and others in Kotwali Nagar on February 1, 2023. It was alleged that these accused had burnt copies of the holy religious scriptures of Hindus and their act was likely to create unrest in the society. A demand was made that strict action should be taken against the said leaders and their supporters who were spoiling the atmosphere. After investigating the case, the police filed the charge sheet.