Allahabad HC refuses to quash 23-yr-old criminal case against Congress MP Surjewala

The Allahabad High Court has refused to quash the 23-year-old criminal case of Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewal, which is pending in a court in Varanasi.

However, the court ordered that in the case, Surjewala can file an application for release in the lower court, which will be considered and decided expeditiously within six weeks.

Besides, the court also ordered that no coercive action be taken against the Rajya Sabha MP for a period of two months or until the discharge petition is disposed of, whichever is earlier.

The case dates back to 2000, when Surjewala, who was the then national president of the Youth Congress, was charged with alleged ruckus when he protested the alleged false involvement of Congress leaders in the Samvasini scandal in Varanasi.

Disposing of an application filed by Surjewala under section 482 (own powers of the High Court) of the Criminal Code, Justice Rajiv Gupta observed, "On perusal of the material on record and consideration of the facts of the case at this stage, it cannot be said that no offence has been committed against the applicant." Surjewala led the demonstration organized in Varanasi on 21 August 2000 against the alleged false involvement of Congress leaders in the Samvasini scandal involving women inmates of a shelter home.

During the demonstration, the Congress leader along with his supporters allegedly indulged in damaging property, pelting stones and obstructing civil servants from performing their duties. A criminal case was registered against him and others at Cantt police station in Varanasi. They are currently on trial in the MP/MLA court in Varanasi.