Lucknow: More than two dozen men in multiple vehicles reached the home of Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Maharaji Prajapati in Amethi on Tuesday night and hurled abuses at her and her family members. They allegedly assaulted an aide of the legislator when he stopped them from entering.
Arrests Made
Police arrested five people, including the main accused Sher Bahadur Yadav, on Wednesday, while efforts are on to identify and nab other accused. Police said around 25-30 men in SUVs and bikes reached Prajapati's residence in Awas Vikas Colony around 9:30pm on Tuesday and began hurling abuses. Prajapati is the wife of former Uttar Pradesh minister Gayatri Prajapati, who is serving a life term after being convicted by an MP/MLA court in a rape case.
FIR Details
Prajapati's son Anurag, in his First Information Report (FIR), named 12 accused, including Sher Bahadur Yadav, and two dozen unidentified persons. Anurag claimed that the accused arrived in multiple vehicles including two black SUVs (registration numbers UP36X8808 and UP44HF4149). When Maharaji Prajapati's family and staff began to record videos on their mobile phones, the accused became aggressive and attacked Surendra Prajapati, a family member and aide of the MLA, Anurag alleged. They snatched Surendra's mobile and slapped him multiple times. Anurag claimed that the accused threatened the family, saying they had weapons in the vehicles.
Escape and Investigation
The complainant said the accused left only after local residents came out after hearing the commotion. Superintendent of Police (SP), Amethi, T Sravanan, said preliminary investigation suggests that the dispute stemmed from acrimonious exchanges on social media between main accused Sher Bahadur Yadav and Dheeraj Pal, an aide of the MLA. Police said the online dispute escalated and later culminated in the confrontation at the legislator's residence. Anurag Prajapati, who was not present at the house, reached his home with supporters after getting information.
Police personnel have been deployed near the MLA's home to prevent any escalation. Police are examining video footage and photographs attached to the complaint.
