'Fake' Degree Row : Allahabad HC Dismisses Plea Seeking Criminal Case Against Dy CM Keshav Maurya
The Allahabad High Court on Monday dismissed a petition seeking the registration of a criminal case against Senior BJP Leader and Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya over allegations of submitting fake educational degrees while contesting elections and obtaining a petrol pump dealership.
The bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar Singh rejected the plea filed by Diwakar Nath Tripathi, a BJP leader and social activist from Prayagraj. Tripathi had approached the High Court after an application filed by him under Section 156(3) CrPC, seeking a police investigation into the matter, was dismissed by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Prayagraj, back in 2021.
In her order, the ACJM, Namrata Singh, had found that no cognizable offence was made out against Maurya, and accordingly, Tripathi's plea was rejected.
Tripathi later challenged the ACJM's order before the High Court. However, in February 2024, the Court dismissed his revision on the ground of delay, noting that the petition was filed more than 300 days after the trial court's order.
However, in January this year, the Supreme Court condoned the delay and directed the High Court to consider the matter on the merits.
Pursuant to the Supreme Court's directions, Tripathi again approached the High Court with a fresh petition taking the same allegations and grounds. The matter was admitted in April 2025, and judgment was reserved in May.