Another BJP minister in the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government, Prem Kumar, could be in trouble with the LJP on Sunday demanding his removal for allegedly suppressing information that he was declared an absconder in a case of rioting and assault by a court 15 years ago while filing his nomination for the Assembly elections.
State unit LJP chief Pashupati Kumar Paras told a press conference that Kumar, the Urban development minister, was declared an absconder by the chief judicial magistrate court in Gaya vide an order dated March 23, 1996 in connection with a case registered against him at the Kotwali police station five years earlier.
“The minister has not only been absconding in the case, but is also guilty of suppression of the case status in the affidavit submitted by him at the time of filing nomination to contest from the Gaya town Assembly seat last year,” he said.
The case was lodged under Sections 147 (rioting), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 337 (causing hurt by endangering safety of others), and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duties) of IPC, he said.
The charges against Mr Kumar were grave and he should be sacked by chief minister without delay, Mr Paras said. A LJP delegation will also approach the EC seeking termination of Mr Kumar’s membership from the state Assembly as he had hidden the details of the case in his affidavit, Mr Paras said.