UP minister sentenced to 1-year jail, later gets bail

Kanpur (UP), Aug 8 Rakesh Sachan, cabinet minister in the Yogi Adityanath government, was sentenced to one year of imprisonment with a fine of Rs 1,500 in an Arms Act case after he surrendered before a court on Monday.

He was later granted bail on a bond of Rs 50,000.

On Sunday, police launched a probe into his 'disappearance' from the courtroom after his conviction.

Sachan was held guilty two days ago in an Arms Act case lodged against him on August 13, 1991, for possession of an illegal rifle. Soon after, Sachan allegedly ran away from the courtroom with a copy of the order.

The additional chief metropolitan magistrate court's reader, Kamini, had filed a complaint with police alleging Sachan had taken away the file while fleeing.

The minister while being taken to the court said he was appearing before the court despite not being given any notice, adding the case against him is bogus.

"I am doing so because media painted me like an absconder, someone who took away the file. Whatever the court will decide I will abide by it," he said.

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