Maid murder case: Court allows BSP MP's plea to sign documents

Bahujan Samaj party Member of Parliament Dhananjay Singh, who was arrested along with his wife Jagriti Singh in connection with the murder of their maid, was today allowed by a Delhi court to sign documents related to disbursement of Member of Parliament Local Area Development funds.

The court allowed Dhananjay's plea to sign the documents and also extended the judicial custody of the couple till December 30.

Dhananjay, an MP from Jaunpur constituency in Uttar Pradesh, and Jagriti, a dental surgeon at the R M L Hospital here, were produced before Metropolitan Magistrate Gomati Manocha after expiry of their custody. The Delhi police said the probe into the case was going on.

In his plea, Dhananjay said that being an MP, he needs to sign documents and letters related to disbursement of funds. "The applicant (Dhananjay) being Member of Parliament has been allocated MPLAD funds and the same is required to be disbursed by DM, CDO and project director, Jaunpur, UP and for the said disbursement of funds the letters are required to be signed by the applicant/accused on his letter head," Dhananjay said in his plea.

He also said that he is presently in judicial custody and needs court's permission to sign the letters for disbursement of the MPLAD funds by the competent authorities in Jaunpur.

"It is, therefore, most respectfully prayed that....allow the present application to sign the letter heads (personal) for disbursement of MPLAD funds by the concerned authorities," he said.

Dhananjay and Jagriti were arrested on November 5 in connection with the death of their 35-year-old maid Rakhi Bhadra, a resident of West Bengal. The MP, who already faces charges of murder and offences under the UP Gangsters Act, was arrested for allegedly destroying evidence, not informing police about the maid's death immediately and employing a juvenile as domestic help.

Jagriti was arrested under sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 344 (wrongful confinement) of Indian Penal Code and Juvenile Justice Act.