DSP killing: Raja Bhaiya resigns from UP cabinet

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias ‘Raja Bhaiya’ resigned on Monday and he was booked for alleged conspiracy in the killing of a police officer over which a CBI probe will be ordered.

Facing heat over the alleged involvement of Raja Bhaiya in the murder of DSP Zia-ul-Haq in mob violence in Pratapgarh district on Saturday, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav rushed to the officer’s native village in Deoria and assured his wife Parveen Azad her demand for a CBI inquiry would be accepted.

Akhilesh earlier told the state Assembly, which was rocked by the killing, that a “just and impartial” action would be taken against those responsible. 44-year-old Raja Bhaiya, who has a criminal record and has been jailed before, figures in the FIR filed by the slain officer’s wife Parveen Azad in which the minister was accused of criminal conspiracy. Parveen also demanded a CBI probe.
Shortly after he resigned, Raja Bhaiya made a statement in the Assembly demanding a CBI inquiry and reiterated he was ready to go to jail to save embarrassment to the Samajwadi Party government. Eight policemen including the Inspector at Kunda police station in Pratpgarh district were also suspended for fleeing the spot when the DSP was being attacked.
Raja Bhaiya blamed a corporator of a particular political party for giving the “most unfortunate” incident a political colour by raising slogans demanding his (Raja Bhaiya’s) arrest in Pratapgarh the next day of the incident. On the FIR in which he has also been named, the Kunda MLA said there was a lacuna in it and it would not be able to ensure justice.