A court in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday framed charges against convicted Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Vikram Saini in a case related to Muzaffarnagar Riots.
A Special MP/MLA court framed the charges against Saini and 26 others for promoting enmity between different religions in a case related to the 2013 Muzaffarnagar Riots. Saini has already been convicted in an earlier case related to the riots.
The case would be next heard on June 21.
What we know of the case?
Saini and others are facing trial for their alleged role in violence on August 28, 2013 at Kawal village in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, reported PTI.
"Saini and others were facing trial for their alleged role in violence on August 28, 2013 at Kawal village when a crowd was returning after the cremation of two Jat youths," reports PTI.
The court acquitted 15 other accused for lack of evidence, according to PTI.
Who is Vikram Saini?
Vikram Saini was a two-time MLA from Khatauli in Western Uttar Pradesh.
Saini was earlier convicted in a case related to Muzaffarnagar Riots and was sentenced to two years of imprisonment.
As per the election law, he was disqualified as a lawmaker after his conviction.
"Police filed a separate charge sheet under section 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on the ground of religion...) of the Indian Penal Code in the case after getting sanction from the state government as required under Section 196(1) of the Code Of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)," reported PTI.
In the communal clashes that followed in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas in August and September 2013, nearly 60 people were killed and 40,000 displaced, according to PTI.
(With PTI inputs)
