Patna, Feb 3 (IANS) A Bihar court Friday acquitted 11 Nepali Maoist leaders, including a former minister and six MPs, on a state government petition seeking to withdraw criminal cases against them.
The government Wednesday filed a petition in the court of additional district judge in Patna for the withdrawal of cases against the arrested Nepali Maoists, government lawyer Jai Prakash Singh said.
The state government initiated the move to withdraw the criminal cases following a request by the central home ministry, he added.
According to police officials here, on May 2, 2004, a special team led by then Patna Senior Superintendent of Police N.H. Khan arrested 11 Maoist leaders, including two party politburo members, from five hotels in Patna for their alleged involvement in anti-India activities.
Soon after, a criminal case was lodged with Gandhi Maidan police station and they were sent to judicial custody in Beur jail in Patna and later to the Buxar jail.
The Patna High Court granted them bail on June 16, 2006. Released June 22, 2006, they returned to Nepal where they now occupy key positions.
