UP govt to hand over case against Arjun Singh to CBI

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati is all set to land Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh in the CBI net.

The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to entrust the anti-dowry case registered against Arjun Singh and his family members to the CBI.

"Let the CBI probe the matter," UP Home Secretary Javeed Ahmed told media persons on Monday evening.

"A letter to that effect will be issued shortly," he added.

Ahmed said, "Since the matter involves a top Central minister and his immediate family members, the state government decided to hand over the entire case to the country's premier investigation agency."

Earlier on Sunday night, the UP police registered a criminal case in Moradabad district under the Dowry Act against the HRD minister, his wife Saroj Singh, daughter Beena Singh, son Abhimanyu Singh, grandson Abhijeet Singh and two others.

The FIR was lodged on the direction of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Chandausi, on a complaint by Madhvendra Singh, the father of Arjun Singh's granddaughter-in-law Priyanka Singh.

According to Moradabad district police chief Prem Prakash, "The court had ordered the registration of the case on July 27 but the FIR was registered at Chandausi Kotwali police station Sunday."

In his complaint before the judicial magistrate, Madhvendra Singh alleged that his son-in-law and other family members of his (son-in-law) family had been demanding a Mercedes Benz car and a flat from him as dowry. He also alleged that his daughter Priyanka was being tortured because the demand for such dowry could not be met.

Singh, who normally avoids the media, was quick to deny his involvement.

"I have nothing to do with the family," Singh was reported to have told the media in New Delhi.