LUCKNOW: In a turn of events, the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court handed out a shocker to rape accused SP leader and former minister Gayatri Prajapati by staying the order of granting him bail in a gang rape case on an application by the State government here on Friday.
Prajapati and his two accomplices were granted bail by Additional Sessions Judge Om Prakash Mishra on April 25.
Passing the order, Chief Justice Dilip B Bhosle also directed the police to take the other two accused --- Vivek Verma and Pintoo Singh— into custody forthwith.
The State government had approached the High Court against Prajapati's bail order pleading the court to hear the petition on Friday itself, as it was a serious matter.
The prosecution submitted in court that Gayatri Prajapati was granted bail by the lower court on April 25, 2017 without taking correct facts and circumstances
into consideration.
However, Prajapati was not released from jail as Uttar Pradesh police sought his judicial remand in two other earlier cases, which was allowed. The court posted the matter for next hearing after two months.
Meanwhile, UP police expedited its efforts to nab Vivek Verma and Pintoo Singh, who were released after the April 25 order. IG (zone) constituted four teams to ensure their arrest.
Raids were conducted at several places in Lucknow and Amethi but both the accused are absconding.