This Article is From Nov 12, 2014

'Missing Minister' Nihal Chand Meghwal Skips Court Appearance, Sends Lawyer

'Missing Minister' Nihal Chand Meghwal Skips Court Appearance, Sends Lawyer

Union minister Nihal Chand Meghwal (in cap) seen with Ganganagar Superintendent of Police Hari Prasad Sharma (on his right) on October 30

Nihal Chand Meghwal, described by critics as the "missing minister" after the police in Rajasthan claimed they could not find him, did not show up in court today for the second time but sent his lawyer.

The 43-year-old minister was asked to appear along with 16 others in a case of rape and blackmail filed by a woman in June.  Even six months on he has not received any summons, said his lawyer, who appeared on his own.

"It is not necessary for the minister to appear. We are going to initiate action against the person who made the false complaint," AK Jain told NDTV. He said the woman in her complaint had not named Mr Meghwal as an accused.

In August, the police in Mr Meghwal's home constituency Ganganagar had told the court that they "could not find the minister" at his address as he had moved to Delhi.

Mr Meghwal has, however, made multiple appearances in Ganganagar and has even been photographed with the district's top police officer Hari Prasad Sharma - who had been ordered to ensure that the minister received the court summons. On October 30, Mr Sharma joined the minister for a "Run for Unity" to mark Sardar Patel's birth anniversary. Days before that, Mr Meghwal adopted a village at a very public event, apparently also overlooked by the police.

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh tweeted this morning, "The case of missing Minister Meghwal becomes more mysterious. Raj Police can't find him although SP of the District has photo op with him !"

Aam Aadmi Party's Yogendra Yadav commented, "Modi government's minister Nihal Chand Meghwal is missing. Will Prime Minister help find him?"

Mr Meghwal, a minister of state, was shifted from Chemicals and Fertilizers to Panchayati Raj in Sunday's cabinet expansion, but he was not dropped despite the political controversy over the rape case.

In 2012, the Rajasthan police investigated the woman's complaint and closed the case. She then moved court, which summoned the minister and others named by her.

The BJP alleges that Mr Meghwal was framed by the previous Congress government of Rajasthan.
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