A senior BJP minister in the Uttarakhand Government is in the centre of a storm over his role in the alleged forceful release of an accused from the custody of revenue police on March 18 in Rudraprayag district.

While Patwaris, who also act as policemen in the hill districts, are angry over the incident and claimed that they had registered a case against Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Matbar Singh Kandari, the state Government, local district administration and Kandari, who represents Rudraprayag constituency, deny that any case was registered in this connection.

Chief Minister Maj Gen (retd) B C Khanduri has sent Garhwal Divisional Commissioner Subhash Kumar to Rudraprayag to inquire into the matter.

It was in March 2007 that a Patwari was allegedly beaten up by some ruling BJP leaders in the district and a case was registered against former zila panchayat chief Vikram Patwal and his wife Urmila, and some other BJP workers. But, no action was taken.

On March 18 this year, when a team of Patwaris was bringing another accused Anand Parkash, Kandari allegedly stopped their jeep and took away the accused. The Patwaris claim they later filed a case against the minister, his gunmen and personal assistant for obstructing public servants from performing their duties. Later, Vikram and Urmila Patwal were also arrested.

However, Garhwal Divisional Commissioner Subhash Kumar, who went to Rudraprayag on Thursday, said that no case was registered against the minister.

Matbar Singh Kandari talking to media on Thursday said he had only objected to arrest of a woman without women police. “There was no forceful release of the accused. I spoke to District Magistrate and the matter was sorted out.”

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