<p>Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was on Wednesday sentenced to six months’ imprisonment by a court in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur district for violation of the model code of conduct during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The court announced a similar sentence for 19 other Bharatiya Janata Party workers. It also imposed a fine of Rs 500 on all of them.<br /><br />Naqvi was taken into custody immediately after the court verdict, but was later granted bail by the court.<br /><br />Naqvi and 19 others had been charged with violating the model code of conduct and breach of prohibitory orders by blocking the road and laying siege to Patwai police station in Rampur, about 340 km from the state capital, after the police seized a BJP vehicle.<br /><br />The minister had said he was not present on the spot at the time of the incident.<br />A complaint had been lodged against Naqvi and others. The trial had been going in the district court since 2009. Naqvi’s lawyers said that they would appeal against the verdict.<br />DH News Service</p>
<p>Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was on Wednesday sentenced to six months’ imprisonment by a court in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur district for violation of the model code of conduct during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The court announced a similar sentence for 19 other Bharatiya Janata Party workers. It also imposed a fine of Rs 500 on all of them.<br /><br />Naqvi was taken into custody immediately after the court verdict, but was later granted bail by the court.<br /><br />Naqvi and 19 others had been charged with violating the model code of conduct and breach of prohibitory orders by blocking the road and laying siege to Patwai police station in Rampur, about 340 km from the state capital, after the police seized a BJP vehicle.<br /><br />The minister had said he was not present on the spot at the time of the incident.<br />A complaint had been lodged against Naqvi and others. The trial had been going in the district court since 2009. Naqvi’s lawyers said that they would appeal against the verdict.<br />DH News Service</p>