Lucknow, Nov 16 (IANS) An Uttar Pradesh minister and seven others have been booked for criminal intimidation and extortion in Sitapur district, police said Tuesday.
A case against Weights and Measurement Minister Ramhet Bharti and seven others was registered late Monday on the directions of a local court in Sitapur.
Moolchand Gautam of Lonianpurwa village had moved the court, alleging that Bharti threatened and asked him to withdraw a police complaint filed against Kuldeep Srivastava - another resident of the village - over a money dispute.
"The chief judicial magistrate issued the order Nov 4. We received the official copy Monday and a case was registered," police inspector R.P. Shahi told reporters in Sitapur, some 80 km from here.
"The case has been registered for extortion and criminal intimidation," Shahi said.
A deputy superintendent of police has been directed to inquire into the case.