In a significant development, a court in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur has declared former Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) MP and renowned actor Jaya Prada as an “absconder” on Tuesday. This declaration comes in connection with two cases of election code violations that Prada is allegedly involved in. The court’s decision also entails directing the police to arrest her and present her before the court on March 6.
The invocation of such a legal provision is a consequence of the accused failing to make appearances in court despite being subject to non-bailable warrants. Consequently, a proclamation procedure is initiated to ensure their presence before the court.
According to senior prosecution officer Amarnath Tiwari, two cases were lodged against the former Rampur MP at the Kemari and Swar police stations for purportedly violating the Model Code of Conduct during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Despite the special MP-MLA court issuing multiple summons in these cases, Jaya Prada did not make an appearance. Subsequently, non-bailable warrants were issued against her on seven occasions. However, law enforcement authorities were unable to produce her before the court, leading to the recent declaration of her as an “absconder.”
This legal development sets the stage for further legal proceedings against Jaya Prada in connection with the alleged election code violations, adding another layer of complexity to her legal situation.
