New Delhi, Feb 20 (UNI) The Supreme Court today cleared the decks for prosecution and trial of Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs and Civil Supplies Mohd Taslimudin as it directed the trial court to decide the application filed by the then Rabri Devi government for withdrawal of a criminal case for attempt to murder and under the Arms Act pending in Araria district court in Bihar.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices R V Ravindran and D K Jain issued the directions after the present Bihar Government headed by Niteish Kumar informed the Court that it is not withdrawing the case and was interested in prosecuting the RJD MP who is presently a minister at the Centre.

The government also informed the Court that it is going to withdraw the application filed by Rabri Devi government earlier.

The Apex Court said that the concerned magistrate will decide the applications on merit in view of the changed stand of the present government in the case. The Court disposed of the petition filed by the Delhi Study Group with the a foresaid directions.

Earlier, the PIL was filed against the decision of the then Rabri Devi government to withdraw the case as according to the petitioner it was a politically motivated move of the then state government as the accused belong to RJD headed by Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, the husband of the then Chief Minister.

UNI