Arrested ex-MLA's wife fears threat to his life

LUCKNOW: Anita Singh, the wife of mafia-turned-politician and disqualified Bahujan Samaj Party MLA Jitendra Singh 'Babloo', on Wednesday shot off a letter to Uttar Pradesh Governor BL Joshi requesting him to save life of her husband who was arrested on Tuesday and sent to 14-day judicial custody on charges of threatening a businessman. Babloo, who is also the prime accused in arson case in which UP Congress chief Rita Bahugana Joshi's residence was set afire in Lucknow in July 2008, was expelled from BSP.Subsequently, his assembly membership was dissolved after he recently defected to the Peace Party of India. The Peace Party workers also staged protest against Babloo's arrest.
Claiming that her husband has been framed, Anita has said that she fears for her husband's life after seeing the fate of Dr YS Sachan, deputy chief medical officer who was arrested on charges of bungling in National Rural Health Mission, but was later killed in the jail. "My husband perhaps know the big fishes behind torching of Rita Joshi's house, hence he has been arrested, so as to prevent him from spilling the beans."
"Police says that my husband has been arrested on the complaint of MC Srivastava, who accused Singh of threatening him and trying to forcibly occupy his property. However, complainant had also named a few government officers including a police inspector in his FIR. But, action has been taken only against her husband," she said, and raised questions on the integrity of the complainant. Apprehending that more fabricated cases can be lodged against Singh, she has asked the governor to get charges probed by the CBI before taking any action.
Babloo won 2007 assembly election from Bikapur in Faizabad on a BSP ticket. However, party denied him ticket for 2012 assembly polls. He was expelled from BSP recently when he defected to Peace Party. He was also disqualified from state assembly under anti-defection law. The criminal cases pending against Babloo include murder, attempt to murder, land grabbing and kidnapping among others. Police had withdrawn a few cases against Babloo when he was in the ruling party. The state government had also transferred the case of arson at Rita Bahugana Joshi's house to CB-CID. But Babloo's name was included in the case after a Congress leader filed a petition in the court. However, no action was taken till March earlier this year when the petitioner requested the court to order a CBI probe into the incident. On March 3, Babloo was arrested along with another BSP leader Intizar Ahmad Abdi in connection with arson case, but later released on bail. However, later Babloo fell out of favour with Mayawati and denied ticket for the coming elections.