NEW DELHI: The Union government has decided to go in appeal against the acquittal of Dr Sanjay Singh, minister for communications, by a Lucknow court in the Syed Modi murder case.

The major decision to go in appeal against a sitting member of the Union council of ministers was taken after ascertaining the opinion of the highest legal authorities in ‘the government.

It is reasonably certain that Dr Sanjay Singh, a close relation of the former Prime Minister, Mr V.P: Singh, will have to resign from the ministry pending disposal of the appeal by the high court. The decision to go in appeal has been communicated to the UP government.

The Congress president, Mr Rajiv Gandhi, as a demonstration of his reservations about the induction of Dr Sanjay Singh in the council of ministers had not attended? The swearing-in’ ceremony of the new “ministers ‘on November 21. Apparently, the decision to go in appeal against the lower court order has been taken under pressure from the Congress.

Much to the astonishment of political circles, Dr. Sanjay Singh, who is married to a daughter of Mr. V.P. Singh’s brother had switched loyalty to the Chandra Shekhar camp after the National Front government was defeated in Parliament. Different interpretations were given to his development. According to one version, Dr. Sanjay Singh, a Rajya Sabha member, had switched loyalty because he had been disowned by Mr V.P. Singh. According to another version Dr. Singh had made this move to forestall a possible decision by the new government to appeal against the Lucknow court order.

After switching loyalty to the Janata Dal (S), Dr Sanjay Singh had been sedulously courting Mr Chandra Shekhar. Not only was he seen frequenting his South Avenue ‘bungalow he had made it a point to accompany Mr Chandra Shekhar in his car on his visits to Parliament and other places.

Apparently, as a reward for this newfound friendship for the Prime Minister, he was inducted as minister for communication with independent charge. Some of the supporters of the Prime Minister had claimed that Dr Singh had been inducted into the new government under pressure from the UP chief minister, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, who wanted this “heavy weight” leader out of the way in state politics.

Although Dr Singh had openly criticised the former Prime Minister, Mr V.P. Singh, at meetings he addressed with Mr Chandra Shekhar, his critics both in the Janata Dal (S) and the Congress were of the view that he would return to the Raja’s fold once the six month statutory period for going in appeal against the lower court order was over,

Article extracted from this publication >> December 7, 1990