Lucknow, January 21
The infamous independent MLA from Kunda, Kunwar Rahghuraj Pratap Singh, alias Raja Bhaiya, was today re-inducted into the Mulayam Singh Yadav ministry as a Cabinet Minister, a month after being granted bail by a Madhya Pradesh POTA court.

Governor T.V. Rajeswar administered the oath of office and secrecy at a grand open-air ceremony on the manicured lawns of the Raj Bhavan in the presence of the Thakur lobby of the Samajwadi Party led by national general secretary Amar Singh. Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, his Cabinet ministers and senior officials were present on the occasion.

Among others who were seen celebrating the return of the Raja to the Cabinet were Akshay Pratap Singh, MLA, and cousin of the controversial Raja of Kunda. A large number of Rajput MLAs and supporters had turned up to express support.

Conspicuous among those present was another ‘Thakur’— former chief secretary A.P. Singh who had to step down and is facing CBI charges for corruption.

The controversial minister had resigned following a severe indictment of the state government by the Supreme Court on November 10. The apex court had quashed the state government’s order removing POTA charges against the minister.

It had also decided to transfer the case to the POTA court in Madhya Pradesh saying that the cases would continue under the relevant sections of the POTA, Explosive Substances Act and Arms Act

Raja Bhaiya, then the Food and Civil Supplies Minister, had resigned immediately. He had surrendered before the POTA court in Kanpur on November 15.

Perhaps for the first time in the history of the state, a Cabinet minister will have to appear at the police station every month. This is because the MP court has granted bail to Raja Bhaiya last month with the direction that he has to appear before a Jabalpur police station every month.

A beaming Raja Bhaiya told reporters that the POTA case was slapped on him due to political reasons. Hinting at former CM Mayawati’s regime he said that within a day 150 cases had been levelled against Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mr Amar Singh and Mr Shivpal Yadav.

When reminded that he had been re-inducted into the Uttar Pradesh ministry when he was out on bail, he replied that even during his last tenure he had been out on bail.