File photo: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was today briefly taken into custody in Uttar Pradesh and later granted bail in a case of poll code violation.
A court in Rampur had sentenced him to one year in jail for violating the model code of conduct six years ago.
"It is a politically motivated case," Mr Naqvi said.
The BJP leader was accused by the police of defying prohibitory orders while campaigning for the 2009 national election.
Mr Naqvi's convoy was stopped by the police for checking but his supporters reportedly protested outside a police station. Mr Naqvi reportedly addressed the protesting workers and was among 200 people booked at the time. 19 people, including the BJP leader, have been found guilty.
The BJP has described the one-year jail sentence as "overreaction" to a peaceful protest.
Mr Naqvi is the Minister of State for Minority Affairs in the central government.