<p>The ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) on Monday categorically refused to act against minister of state Ram Murti Verma, accused of ordering the killing of a journalist by setting him afire.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Mere lodging of an FIR cannot be the basis for the sacking of the minister, senior UP minister and SP chief spokesman Shivpal Singh Yadav said at a press conference.<br />"Just because someone has levelled allegations against someone does not prove that the accused is guilty," said Shivpal Yadav, the younger brother of SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. <br /><br />However, he added, the Akhilesh Yadav government would extend financial assistance to the bereaved family. <br /><br />The top Samajwadi Party leadership, including party general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav, earlier toed the same line and defended Verma. <br /><br />Social media journalist Jagendra Singh died of burn injuries after he was allegedly set ablaze by a senior police official during a raid at his house on June 1.<br /><br />In a video recording made by senior IPS officer Amitabh Thakur during his meeting with the victim at the burns ward at a hospital in the state capital, Jagendra Singh accused Verma of letting loose his henchmen on him on April 28 and then getting him set on fire on June 1. <br /><br />After a hue and cry in the media, the minister was booked in the case along with others. Five policemen were suspended.<br /><br />The family of Jagendra begun a fast-unto-death from Sunday to press for the immediate sacking of the minister from the state cabinet and a CBI probe into the matter. <br /><br />They also accused the minister and senior SP leader Mithlesh Kumar of trying to offer them money and threatening them with dire consequences.<br /></p>
<p>The ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) on Monday categorically refused to act against minister of state Ram Murti Verma, accused of ordering the killing of a journalist by setting him afire.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Mere lodging of an FIR cannot be the basis for the sacking of the minister, senior UP minister and SP chief spokesman Shivpal Singh Yadav said at a press conference.<br />"Just because someone has levelled allegations against someone does not prove that the accused is guilty," said Shivpal Yadav, the younger brother of SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. <br /><br />However, he added, the Akhilesh Yadav government would extend financial assistance to the bereaved family. <br /><br />The top Samajwadi Party leadership, including party general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav, earlier toed the same line and defended Verma. <br /><br />Social media journalist Jagendra Singh died of burn injuries after he was allegedly set ablaze by a senior police official during a raid at his house on June 1.<br /><br />In a video recording made by senior IPS officer Amitabh Thakur during his meeting with the victim at the burns ward at a hospital in the state capital, Jagendra Singh accused Verma of letting loose his henchmen on him on April 28 and then getting him set on fire on June 1. <br /><br />After a hue and cry in the media, the minister was booked in the case along with others. Five policemen were suspended.<br /><br />The family of Jagendra begun a fast-unto-death from Sunday to press for the immediate sacking of the minister from the state cabinet and a CBI probe into the matter. <br /><br />They also accused the minister and senior SP leader Mithlesh Kumar of trying to offer them money and threatening them with dire consequences.<br /></p>