The Allahabad High Court on Monday dismissed a petition that sought the registration of a criminal case against Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Keshav Prasad Maurya. The case involved allegations of Maurya submitting fake educational degrees while contesting elections and applying for a petrol pump dealership.
The matter was heard by the bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar Singh, who rejected the plea filed by Diwakar Nath Tripathi, a BJP leader and social activist from Prayagraj.
Tripathi had initially approached the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM), Prayagraj, by filing an application under Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). He requested a police investigation into the alleged fake degrees submitted by Maurya.
“No cognizable offence is made out against Keshav Prasad Maurya,”
– ACJM Namrata Singh, in her earlier ruling.
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Based on this finding, the ACJM dismissed Tripathi's application in 2021, concluding that no grounds existed for lodging an FIR or initiating a criminal probe.
Tripathi later challenged the ACJM’s decision before the Allahabad High Court. However, the High Court dismissed the revision plea in February 2024, citing an inordinate delay of over 300 days in filing the petition against the trial court's order.
Later, in January 2025, the Supreme Court of India intervened. The apex court condoned the delay and directed the High Court to consider the matter on merits.
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Following the Supreme Court’s directions, Tripathi submitted a fresh petition before the Allahabad High Court, reiterating the same allegations and grounds. The case was admitted in April 2025, and after detailed hearings, the judgment was reserved in May 2025.
On final hearing, the High Court dismissed the plea, maintaining the earlier stance that no criminal case could be made against the Deputy CM based on the current material.
“There is no sufficient basis to initiate a criminal proceeding against the respondent,”
– Justice Sanjay Kumar Singh, Allahabad High Court