In a further embarrassment for chief minister Mayawati, the Uttar Pradesh lokayukta today registered a case against senior cabinet minister and BSP's Muslim face Naseemuddin Siddiqui.
"A case has been registered against minister Siddiqui on complaints of misuse of office and a notice has been issued asking him to reply by December 28," Lokayukta Justice N K Mehrotra said.
He said an inquiry had been initiated and the chief minister informed about it.
Justice Mehrotra said two separate complaints had been lodged against the minister -- one by Ashish Sagar Dixit and the other by Jagdish Narain Shukla -- alleging misuse of office by him.
Siddiqui, who holds charge of several important departments including the PWD, the Excise and the Cane, is said to be a close confidant of Mayawati.
Rajesh Tripathi, Awadhpal Singh, Rangnath Mishra, Badshah Singh and Ratan Lal Ahirwar were stripped of ministerial posts after they were indicted by the lokayukta.