Lucknow:
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has sacked a top government official in his state over allegations of assaulting a photo journalist in Lucknow.
Natwar Goel, a member of the ruling Samajwadi Party, was the vice-chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Khadi and Gram Udyog Board, a post equivalent to a Minister of State in the government.
Mr Goel, however, has refuted the charges. According to him he is being wrongly dragged into a case. "I was sitting in the office, I was told that there has been some loose talk regarding a girl and some people were also taking photos of the girl. I told them to talk to us and discuss and resolve the matter, instead they started accusing me.
However the police complaint of journalist Ashutosh Gupta states another story. He has alleged that he was assaulted by Mr Goel and his supporters when he had gone to take photographs of an allegedly unauthorised building that was being constructed after razing down an aided college.
"When I was returning after taking photographs of the construction work, Goel came along with his security personnel and dragged me to his cabin where I was assaulted," Mr Gupta alleged. He also accused Mr Goel of threatening him with dire consequences.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who is also the state party president, sacked Mr Goel from his post as well as from the party over charges of indiscipline.
Senior Superintendent of Police R K Chaturvedi said, "An FIR has been registered on the complaint lodged by the photo journalist and the accused is being questioned to verify the incident. If verified he would be arrested."
(With PTI inputs)
Natwar Goel, a member of the ruling Samajwadi Party, was the vice-chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Khadi and Gram Udyog Board, a post equivalent to a Minister of State in the government.
Mr Goel, however, has refuted the charges. According to him he is being wrongly dragged into a case. "I was sitting in the office, I was told that there has been some loose talk regarding a girl and some people were also taking photos of the girl. I told them to talk to us and discuss and resolve the matter, instead they started accusing me.
However the police complaint of journalist Ashutosh Gupta states another story. He has alleged that he was assaulted by Mr Goel and his supporters when he had gone to take photographs of an allegedly unauthorised building that was being constructed after razing down an aided college.
"When I was returning after taking photographs of the construction work, Goel came along with his security personnel and dragged me to his cabin where I was assaulted," Mr Gupta alleged. He also accused Mr Goel of threatening him with dire consequences.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who is also the state party president, sacked Mr Goel from his post as well as from the party over charges of indiscipline.
Senior Superintendent of Police R K Chaturvedi said, "An FIR has been registered on the complaint lodged by the photo journalist and the accused is being questioned to verify the incident. If verified he would be arrested."
(With PTI inputs)
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