Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh, its general secretary Amar Singh and other leaders on Wednesday moved the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court to prevent the Uttar Pradesh administration from proceeding in the multiple criminal cases lodged against them.

The Uttar Pradesh government had on Monday simultaneously slapped as many as 136 cases, spread across 40 districts, against Mulayam Singh Yadav, Amar Singh, Mulayam's younger brother Shivpal Singh Yadav, Leader of the Opposition Azam Khan and other SP leaders.

The move was in retaliation to the release of video recordings showing Chief Minister Mayawati demanding cuts out of the constituency development fund of BSP MPs and MLAs, and denigrating Hindu religious rituals.

"The lodging of criminal cases against SP leaders is sheer political vendetta," insisted senior advocate Veerendra Bhatia.

"We have filed a writ seeking quashing of all the FIRs, restraint on further investigation and a stay against arrest of any of the accused," Bhatia told rediff.com in Lucknow.

The case is likely to be taken up on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Congress on Wednesday joined the BJP and the Samajwadi Party in criticising Mayawati, both for filing cases against AICC treasurer Motilal Vora and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and for her alleged derogatory remarks against Hindu deities.

Vora has been accused of misusing the governor's discretionary funds during his tenure in the nineties.

"We are distressed to note that the Uttar Pradesh chief minister has taken recourse to the politics of reckless revenge. She has no regard for either political decency or for constitutional provisions," Congress spokesman S Jaipal Reddy said in Delhi.

"It is important to note that she should have first ordered an investigation before accusing Vora of impropriety. In this case, the process has been reversed."

"We also condemn the manner in which 136 cases were slapped on former UP chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav."

"This is an extreme example of abuse of power and demonstrates arrogance of office. She derives power from the patronage of the BJP. And, the BJP is responsible for every executive action she takes," he said.

On her alleged derogatory comments on Hindu deities, Reddy said, "Secularism means respecting the sentiments of every religion and faith. Mayawati was extremely wrong in showing disrespect to Hindu deities."