Raja Bhaiya's petition to attend assembly session

A Prevention of Terrorism Act court in Kanpur on Wednesday rejected jailed independent Member of Legislative Assembly Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya's petition seeking permission to attend the Uttar Pradesh assembly session starting from February 28.

Observing that the law was same for the common man and people's representatives, the District and Sessions Judge and the Designated POTA Judge, Shailendra Kumar Saxena, rejected the petition moved by Raja Bhiaya's counsel.

Raja Bhaiya, remanded to judicial custody till March 13, is lodged in Banda jail.

Later, Raja Bhaiya's counsel Vijay Narain Singh Sengar moved another application before the court challenging the MLA's detention on the ground that neither the Centre nor the state government had granted sanction for taking cognisance under POTA. Section 50 of the POTA is violated by the prosecution, he contended.

After hearing the arguments of both the parties, the court reserved its verdict.