Arrest warrant issued against Union Minister Kalraj Mishra

PILIBHIT (UTTAR PRADESH): A local court has issued an arrest warrant against Union Minister Kalraj Mishra in a case related to violation of model code of conduct during 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Abdul Kayyum issued the warrant yesterday and fixed May 21 as the next date of hearing after the Union minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises failed to turn up before the court.

The court had earlier also issued the warrant due to Mishra's non-appearance in the court despite repeated summons on a FIR of violation of the Election Commission's model code of conduct.

An FIR was lodged against Mishra on March 28, 2009 when he, along with supporters, allegedly stormed the court when BJP leader Varun Gandhi was surrendering before it in connection with a hate speech case, and damaged government property in spite of Section 144 (Unlawful Assembly) being in force.

The FIR was registered at the Sadar Kotwali police station.