Date:05/11/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/05/stories/2005110512730100.htm

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Police draw a blank in search for Union Minister

Police raids Minister's house in Delhi, draws a blank

New Delhi: Nearly two weeks after a non-bailable warrant was issued, the police on Friday raided the official residence of Union Minister of State for Water Resource Development Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav here but returned empty-handed.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal leader allegedly facilitated the illegal escape of his brother from police custody in Bihar.

Armed with a copy of the warrant, two Bihar sub-inspectors, accompanied by a Delhi police team, searched Mr. Yadav's 5, Ashoka Road bungalow for about half hour and questioned some residents including his servants.

On October 24 a court in Jamui in Bihar issued non-bailable warrants against Mr. Yadav and four others, including his brother and RJD candidate in the Assembly election, Vijay Prakash, and suspended police officer Mukteshwar Prasad for facilitating the "illegal escape." Mr. Yadav moved a bail application the next day but it was rejected.

Second raid

This is the second time a police team, armed with a non-bailable warrant, raided the official residence of a Union Minister in the United Progressive Alliance Government.

Last year, Jharkhand policemen searched the house of Shibu Soren, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief and then Coal Minister.

The BJP general secretary in-charge of Bihar, Arun Jaitley, said that "There cannot be a bigger assault on democracy than the continuance of an absconder in the Union Government despite a non-bailable warrant against him." — PTI