After some dilly-dallying, the police have accepted bus driver Chandubhai Vitthalrao More's complaint against the minister and his driver, though they maintain that the complaint is without substance.

The incident took place when the bus obstructed the minister's car near Nenpur crossing near Mahemdavad on Saturday morning. The bus driver, however, said he had applied brakes to take a turn. The minister and his driver allegedly came out of the car, pulled More out of the bush, slapped and boxed him, and also beat him up with a stick.

Later, Patel allegedly `ordered' the Mahemdavad police to register an offence against the driver. The driver's complaint, however, was not entertained, alleged Kapadvanj Samajwadi Party leader Babubhai Karsanbhai Rabari who, along with More andothers, staged a dharna on Monday.

Police alleged that Rabari was out to make political capital. More was reluctant to discuss the matter, though he showed some superficial injury marks on his shoulders which, he alleged, he had received in the beating by the minister and his driver.

More said that the police initially refused to accept his complaint, but relented later. ``We have accepted the driver's complaint against the minister,'' said Kheda District Superintendent of Police B D Vaghela, ``but none of the people on the spot back the driver's allegation''.

Vagehla said the minister called the police after he saw the bus being driven rashly. ``The driver was arrested for reckless driving and later released on bail, but he has politician friends who have blown up the issue,'' Vaghela said. Patel was not available for comment.