Patna, August 14: A Bihar court on Friday asked RJD Chief Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and LJP chief Ramvilas Paswan to appear before it on August 25 for allowing their petition seeking exemption from further appearance in a case in which they are accused of damaging public property.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Ramesh Malviya passed the order on a petition filed on their behalf pleading that the three leaders be permitted not to appear in the court in person because of their busy schedule.
They are charged with causing destruction to public property in course of the state-wide bandh against price rise on January 6.
Malviya had on June 17 taken cognisance of the complaint filed by senior advocate Sudhir Ojha which alleged that “widespread destruction” was caused to public property in Muzaffarpur and elsewhere during the shutdown called by these leaders and asked them to represent their respective sides on the complaint on July 27.
The three leaders had on July 27 petitioned the court pleading that they be exempted from personal appearance because of busy schedule and allow their lawyers to represent their sides in the court forthwith.
Malviya, on conclusion of hearing, asked the three to appear in the court here on August 25 to file a commitment required for permitting the petition.
Ojha had in his complaint further alleged that the activists of the RJD-LJP misbehaved with him while enforcing the call for bandh called by the combine against price rise.
–Agencies–