Lashing out at the Samajwadi Party (SP) for protecting absconding rape-accused Uttar Pradesh minister Gayatri Prajapati, Union Minister Santosh Gangwar has asserted that only the law can give a verdict on the matter and the latter should present himself in court.
"This is very unfortunate that even political parties are giving protection to him. Only the court has the right to give directions on the same. He should present himself in front of the court and face the music," Gangwar told ANI.
On the other hand, Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi had called on the tainted minister to surrender and offer his resignation as soon as possible.
"The Samajwadi Party is not intentionally trying to rescue him. I would ask him to surrender as soon as possible and resign as well," Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi told ANI.
He further added that Prajapati should not malign the image of the party.
The Supreme Court yesterday had refused to stay the arrest of absconding Prajapati and asked him to approach the concerned court.
Prajapati, who has been on the run since February 27 after an FIR was lodged against him, had approached the top court for a stay on his arrest.
A bench of the apex court headed by Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri made it clear that it won't modify its order.
Prajapati is accused of raping a woman and molesting her minor daughter in 2014.
The Uttar Pradesh Police had issued non-bailable warrants against Prajapati and six others in connection with the rape charges.
Prajapati's passport was revoked for four weeks to prevent him from attempting to flee out of the country.
Earlier this week, the police also initiated proceedings for a look out notice against Prajapati following reports that he may try to escape abroad to evade arrest.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)