Karnataka cops on way to arrest Uma Bharti

A Karnataka Police team was on its way to Bhopal to arrest Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti following a non-bailable warrant issued against her by a court in Hubli in a 10-year old criminal case, Hubli Commissioner of Police K V Gagandeep said on Monday.

The four-member team, led by Dharwad District Superintendent of Police D Rupa, has reached Mumbai by air from where it would proceed to Bhopal to execute the NBW, V Gagandeep said.

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The Judicial Magistrate First Class had issued a fresh NBW against Bharti on August 3 in connection with the case filed against her and 21 others regarding the hoisting of the national flag at the disputed Idgah Maidan here in 1994.

The District and Sessions court in Hubli is to pronounce its order today on Karnataka government's plea to reopen the case against Bharti.

DGP S N Borkar, however, has made it clear that the execution of the NBW has no relation to the issue on which the district and sessions court would give its order today.

Meanwhile, as the court's order is awaited, the police have beefed up security in the city. Some 1,300 policemen have been deployed and prohibitory orders imposed, Gagandeep said.

No procession would be allowed in the city, he added.