UP scribe killing: SP pressures family to withdraw case

As pressure mounts on Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to sack Minister Rammurti Singh Verma, an accused in the killing of web journalist

Jagendra Singh, and order his arrest, Samajwadi Party (SP) leaders have been exerting pressure on the journo’s family to withdraw the case lest they should be in trouble.

According to Singh’s family, they have been asked to take Rs 10 lakh in cash and “withdraw” the complaint against Verma, Minister of State for Backward Welfare.

A senior SP leader, who visited the family on the pretext of offering his condolences, reportedly told the family members that Verma would not be arrested merely because an FIR had been registered against him.

“Jo kar sakte ho kar lo... kuch nahin hoga” (do whatever you can... nothing will happen), SP leader Mithilesh Kumar told Singh’s family in Shahajahanpur.

“Your father used to write useless things about the ministers..... you (son) are a wise boy... you have to take care of the family so behave in a responsible manner in the interest of your family,” Kumar told Singh’s son Rahul dropping enough hints in a subtle way that he must stop pursuing the matter.