A Muzaffarnagar court has issued a bailable warrant against Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan for inciting communal violence during the riots in 2013.
A bailable warrant has been issued against Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan and BJP MLA Suresh Rana by in connection with a case of violating prohibitory orders and inciting communal tension during the Muzaffarnaqar riots in 2013.
The court has directed them to appear before it on November 24, said Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Sitaram. The order comes after the Union Minister for Agriculture and BJP MLA failed to appear before it again yesterday.
Earlier, a bailable warrant was issued by the court on October 23 against several accused in the Muzaffarnagar riots case including Mr Balyan, BJP MP Bhartendu Singh and VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi.
However, the court has withdrawn the warrant against Bhartendu Singh after he surrendered before the court yesterday and submitted a personal bond of Rs 20,000 and an undertaking that he would appear in court on November 24.
According to the prosecution, they are charged with offences under the Indian Penal Code sections 188 (violating prohibitory orders), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty) and 341 (wrongful restraint).
It is alleged that they participated in a Nadala Mador panchayat meeting and violated prohibitory orders and incited violence through their speeches on August 30, 2013.
60 people were killed and over 40,000 people were displaced during the communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas in August last year.