A Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court in Ballia has issued an arrest warrant against 15 people, including Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh. This action has been taken in a 15-year-old Section 144 violation case, with the next hearing scheduled for September 20, 2025.
Ballia: A development that has stirred the political landscape of Uttar Pradesh has come to light. The CJM court in Ballia has issued an arrest warrant against 15 individuals, including senior BJP leader and Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh. This warrant is related to an old case from 2015, in which all accused are charged with violating Section 144.
The court has ordered the Nagar Kotwali police to arrest all the accused and produce them in court on September 20, 2025. This development has not only created a stir in local politics but also across the entire state.
Case Linked to 2015 Tender Dispute
In September 2015, a major controversy erupted regarding the tender process of the Ballia Municipality. Local residents protested heavily, alleging irregularities in the tenders, and shut down markets. Observing the tense situation, the district administration immediately imposed Section 144 to control crowds and protests.
Despite this, the protesters disregarded the order and took to the streets. In the FIR registered at Nagar Kotwali on September 9, Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh, along with 17 named individuals and approximately 150 unknown persons, were made accused. The charge was that these individuals had challenged law and order by violating Section 144.
CJM Court Issues Warrant Against 15 Accused
The hearing of this case has been ongoing for several years. The prosecution stated that two of the accused had obtained bail in 2016 itself, but Minister Dayashankar Singh and 15 others remained continuously absent from court dates. Notices and summons were issued multiple times, but no one took the court's orders seriously.
In the hearing held on Monday, the court of CJM Shailesh Kumar Pandey issued arrest warrants against all the accused. The court instructed the police to arrest everyone and present them in court on September 20, failing which strict action would be taken. This order clearly indicates that the court is not in a mood to delay this matter any further.
Opposition Targets Ruling Party
After the warrant was issued, Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh told the media that he was unaware of this old case. He stated that he respects the law and will soon follow the entire process. Following his statement, workers of the ruling party supported the minister and termed the issue as unnecessarily amplified.
On the other hand, opposition parties attacked the BJP government, stating that when ministers themselves disregard court orders, talking about law and order exposes the government's double standards. Leaders from the Congress and Samajwadi Party have begun presenting this matter to the public as a "BJP failure."
Legal Net Tightens Around Minister Dayashankar Singh
Dayashankar Singh is considered an influential leader from the Ballia district and holds sway in Purvanchal politics. In such a scenario, a legal clampdown on him could affect the BJP's image. Political experts suggest that the opposition could use this issue as a significant electoral weapon.
All eyes are now on the hearing scheduled for September 20, 2025. If the minister and other accused do not appear in court, stricter action could be taken against them. The police administration also faces the challenge of bringing a minister-level accused within the purview of the law and presenting them before the court.
