KANPUR (PTI):A sessions court in India on March 15 rejected the plea of the government of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh for withdrawing criminal cases against the bandit queen Phoolan Devi, who was recently released on parole by the Apex Court.
Additional district and sessions Judge, Kanpur Dehat, Justice S .K. Saxena in his order said withdrawing cases against Phoolan Devi was not in the interest of public as stated by the stale government in its withdrawal order,
I fail to understand, how interest of public at large may be served by such withdrawal. Instead, it appears to serve the interest of the accused, Phoolan Devi, who is involved in different criminal cases, including Behmai massacre in which 20 persons were brutally murdered, he observed. One Raja Ram Singh had filed a petition on behalf of the widows of the infamous Behmai massacre and other sufferers challenging the withdrawal of criminal cases Against Phoolan Devi.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 18, 1994
