Witness in murder case involving Madhya Pradesh minister Lal Singh Arya alleges threats

Bhopal: A Bhind court on Friday offered to provide protection to a witness after he informed the court that the “men” of Madhya Pradesh minister Lal Singh Arya were “threatening him with dire consequences if he deposed against (him)” in a murder case.

Arya is an accused in the murder case of then Congress MLA from Gohad, Makhanlal Jatav, who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on April 13, 2009, during the general elections. The minister has been absconding.

“In his application, witness Suryabhan Gurjar prayed to the court that the men of Arya were offering him allurements and threatening him with dire consequences if he disposed against the state minister,” special public prosecutor Sabal Singh Bhadoria told a news agency over phone.

Special Judge Yogesh Gupta said he was ready to order for providing a guard for Gurjar, if he wishes, Bhadoria added.

On December 5, Gupta issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Arya, directing the police to execute it by December 19, the next date of hearing. But the minister has neither appear before the court, nor the police has been able to execute the warrant.

The development came a fortnight after the Gwalior bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court turned down Arya’s anticipatory bail plea.