Withdrawal of case against Chouhan challenged in HC

A CRIMINAL revision petition today came up for hearing in the MP High Court here for reopening the prosecution against Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and others for allegedly rioting in district Raisen in 1996. The MP High Court would again hear the petition on April 25.

The petition challenges the district court Raisen order of December 6, 2005, permitting the government to withdraw in ‘public interest’ the criminal case under sections 147 (rioting) and 341 (wrongful restraints) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) against Chouhan and others.

Justice Manjusha Namjoshi heard the petitioner’s counsel Greeshm Jain who contended that the prosecution should have produced the then absconding Chouhan and others before the court, ahead of applying for the withdrawal of case.

The prosecution, he contended, hasn’t done its duty and has instead gone for withdrawal of the criminal case. The Raisen police in 1996 had registered a criminal case against Chouhan and 18 others for rioting. The incident took place near the office of divisional forest officer Gauharganj in Raisen district where the BJP workers led by Chouhan staged road-blockade and held demonstration that allegedly turned violent.