Cong demands arrest of minister’s son

Bhopal, Mar 07: The main opposition in state assembly Congress has demanded arrest of a minister’s son who had fired at a Congress leader in Harda district on Thursday. Congress leaders have threatened to stage a bandh in the district on Saturday if a case of attempt to murder against Sandeep Patel, son of Revenue Minister Kamal Patel.

The leaders alleged Sandeep had made an abortive bid to kill Congress leader Rajendra Patel. Hundreds of Congress activists on Friday held a demonstration outside the Superintendent of Police (SP) office in Harda demanding registering a case under Section 307 of the IPC, which amounts to attempt to murder, against the minister’s son. They also demanded immediate arrest of Sandeep Patel. While the Congress alleged that the police were trying to protect the minister’s son, Harda SP Akhilesh Jha said that it was yet to be confirmed whether Sandeep had opened fire. He said that on a complaint by Congress leader, a case of firing has been registered at Harda.

Rajendra Patel in his complaint stated that Sandeep along with his friends reached his house late on Wednesday night and asked him to withdraw corruption charges against his (Sandeep) father. “When I refused, he fired several rounds from his pistol. Fortunately none of the bullets hit me,” he added. “The police are trying to save the culprit under political pressure from the minister. The case should be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation,” said state Congress spokesperson Manak Agarwal. Congress leader Rameshwar Neekhr said, “Firing by the minister’s son at a witness also amounts to contempt of court and the police should take strict action against the guilty.” The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s state spokesperson, Uma Shankar Gupta, however, said that the police investigations into the whole matter were on and action would be taken against whosoever is found guilty.