Charges against Prajapati after decision on Pocso

Charges under Posco could not be framed against former Samajwadi Party minister Gayatri Prajapati on Monday as the high court is yet to decide whether Pocso will be imposed on the former minister or not.

Additional district judge Uma Shanker Sharma is to frame charges against Prajapati under Pocso but he posted the matter for hearing on July 13. The state government has charged him in a gang rape case of a woman and her minor daughter.

Prajapati has challenged Pocso before the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court. On behalf of the state government, additional advocate general VK Shahi has put forward government’s view point justifying Pocso on Prajapati.

Senior council Mridul Rakesh, representing Prajapati, would now file rejoinder on the state government’s reply. Prajapati’s counsel has contended before the court that Posco charges must be dropped against his client on the basis of victim’s statement (minor girl).

Opposing any relief to Prajapati, additional advocate general, VK Shahi argued in one of hearings that all three statements of the minor girl recorded during investigation must be taken into account and they make it a fit case of Posco on Prajapati.

It may be pointed out that the minor victim had refused to identify Prajapati in her third and the last testimony before the police.

The minister, considered close to SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, is also facing charges of misappropriation of funds in the mining department.