Land shark's ministerial connection

LUCKNOW: Minister of state for agriculture Jai Prakash Yadav claims that Lallu Yadav is a 'businessman'. The police, who have rounded him up in a land-grabbing case, call him a land shark.
And the residents of Talkatora believe that no land deal can transpire without Lallu's protection. But the minister will approach chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav to teach police a lesson.
With more than 24 criminal cases pending against him, Lallu was arrested by the Talkatora police on September 16 on a complaint of land grabbing. A fleet of five luxury cars always move with Lallu.
He came under the police dragnet for illegally acquiring land worth Rs 2.5 crore in the Talkatora area.But senior police officials are now dumb-founded at the brazen support he is drawing from a ruling party minister.
Minister Yadav had the audacity of driving down to the Lucknow district jail with his entourage of police escort and supporters to meet Lallu on Sunday.
When contacted by TOI on the criminal cases lodged against Lallu, Jai Prakash said: "These cases are nothing. Even our leader (Mulayam) was an accused in more than 100 cases filed by Mayawati and everyone knows how bogus they were. Same is the case with Lallu."
The minister minced no words when he said that police action against Lallu Yadav was motivated to please someone. He was talking to TOI on phone from Bareilly.
"Lallu Yadav is a businessman and it is no crime to be one. At best he could face an income tax case regarding his assets. You cannot just get up and arrest anyone," Jai Prakash said in an audibly agitated tone.
"Once I reach Lucknow, I will meet the CM and seek an inquiry into the whole thing and against SSP Ashutosh Pandey," Jai Prakash said.
On the other hand, SSP Lucknow Ashutosh Pandey refused to comment on the statements of the minister. "All that I can say is that a complaint was lodged with the police and on this basis the accused was arrested. How do I come in the picture?" Ashutosh questioned.
But he does. When he was SSP Gorakhpur, he had once arrested Jai Prakash Yadav and jailed him.