Allahabad HC refuses to quash criminal case against Cong MP Surjewala

The Allahabad high court on Monday declined to quash a 23-year-old criminal case pending before a Varanasi court against Congress’ Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Singh Surjewala

The Allahabad high court on Monday declined to quash a 23-year-old criminal case pending before a Varanasi court against Congress’ Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Singh Surjewala.

The court has directed that in case Surjewala files an application for discharge in a local court of Varanasi, the same be considered and decided within six weeks. (For Representation)

However, the court has directed that in case Surjewala files an application for discharge in a local court of Varanasi, the same be considered and decided within six weeks. The court also directed that no coercive action would be taken against Surjewala for two months or till the disposal of the discharge application, whichever was earlier.

The case is of 2000 wherein Surjewala along with other Congress leaders was booked for allegedly creating ruckus while protesting against alleged false implication of some Congress leaders in Samvasini scandal in Varanasi. It is alleged that during the demonstration, the Congress leader, who was then national president of Youth Congress, along with his supporters indulged in damaging of property, stone throwing and preventing public servant from discharging their duties. A criminal case was lodged against them at Cannt police station of Varanasi then.

Disposing of the application filed by Surjewala under section 482 (inherent powers of high court) of criminal procedure code, Justice Rajiv Gupta observed, “From perusal of the material on record and looking into the facts of the case, at this stage, it cannot be said that no offence is made out against the applicant. All the submissions made at the bar relate to the disputed questions of fact, which cannot be adjudicated upon by this court under section 482 of CrPC”.