Former UP Minister Swami Prasad Maurya, daughter declared fugitives by MP-MLA court

Former Uttar Pradesh minister and National President of the Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party, Swami Prasad Maurya, along with his daughter, former BJP MP from Badaun, Sanghamitra Maurya, have been declared fugitives by the MP-MLA Court in Lucknow.

The court issued orders under Section 82 of the Indian Penal Code (proclaiming a person as absconding) against Maurya and three other accused for failing to appear in court despite being issued summons thrice, including two bailable warrants and one non-bailable warrant, in connection with an assault case related to a marriage dispute filed by Lucknow-based journalist Deepak Kumar Swarnkar.

About the case

Deepak Kumar Swarnkar, who married Sanghamitra Maurya in 2019, filed a complaint alleging he was misled about Sanghamitra's first marriage. He claimed he was told she was divorced when they married, but she actually got divorced in 2021. Swarnkar further alleged that in 2021, Swami Prasad and Sanghamitra attacked him at his house "with the intention of killing" him. He also claimed another attack occurred in November 2021 at a hotel in Kushinagar, followed by an attack near Dr. Ambedkar University in Lucknow.

'Justice will be served soon'

Amid the current order, it is pertinent to note that the Maurya family had previously approached the High Court against the MP-MLA Court's decision. However, the High Court, presided over by Judge Jaspreet Singh, had reprimanded Maurya, stating there was sufficient evidence against them and they would have to return to the MP-MLA Court. But dissatisfied with High Court's order, the Maurya family then appealed to the Supreme Court, where their case was not taken seriously.

Meanwhile, on behalf of the plaintiff, Deepak Kumar Swarnkar, his advocates Rohit Kumar Tripathi and Rajesh Kumar Tiwari expressed their gratitude to the court and said they have full faith that justice will be served soon.