Muzaffarnagar riots case: Union minister Sanjeev Baliyan surrenders, gets bail

MUZAFFARNAGAR: Union minister Sanjeev Baliyan, BJP MLA Suresh Rana and five others today surrendered in a court here and were granted bail after a warrant was issued against them for failing to appear in connection with a 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots case.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Sitaram granted them bail on a personal bond of Rs 20,000 each.

According to prosecution, they are facing charges under various sections of IPC for violating prohibitory orders, deterring public servants from discharging their duties and also wrongful restraint.

While issuing bailable warrants, the court had on November 24 asked the accused, including Baliyan, Minister of State for Agriculture and BJP MP from Muzaffarnagar, and Rana to appear before it on December 18.

It is alleged that the accused participated in Nadala Mador panchayat meeting and incited violence through their speeches in the last week of August of 2013.

The communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas in August and September of 2013 had claimed 60 lives and displaced over 40,000 people.