A local court in Rampur today sentenced Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to one year in jail for violating prohibitory orders during the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. Judicial Magistrate Manish Kumar held Mr. Naqvi guilty under IPC sections of unlawful assembly, wrongful restraint and wrongful confinement. Eighteen others were also convicted. Mr. Naqvi was later granted bail.

Talking to PTI, after the grant of bail, Mr. Naqvi said that he respects the judiciary and the Court order. Mr. Naqvi said, he will study the judgment and take remedial legal steps.

The case relates to a demonstration by BJP workers led by Mr. Naqvi at Patwai area of Rampur parliamentary constituency at the time of campaigning for the 2009 Lok Sabha polls during which they allegedly breached the prohibitory orders in force and barged into a police station. They were demonstrating against the arrest of Rampur BJP chief and seizure of a vehicle of the party. Police had lodged an FIR against 200 people, including Mr. Naqvi.

Meanwhile, reacting to the sentence to Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the Congress today said, it is for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to decide whether a sentenced person should continue in his Council of Ministers. Talking to AIR, party spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said, it would be morally incorrect and set a bad precedent if Mr Naqvi is allowed to continue as the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs.