Rajesh Rai: OSD in Info Dept,‘owner of resort’

Director of Information Ajay Kumar Upadhyaya said he was not aware of the incident,nor had they received any report from the police.

Rai was arrested on Monday evening when he and his men allegedly beat up some visitors to the Dream Valley Resort in Gosainganj,which he allegedly owns. His personal guard Parshuram,manager Shravan and two aides — Sanjay and Karun Shanker — were arrested too.

Later,a 50-strong mob —most of them women — raided the police station and freed him. Since then,a manhunt has been on for him.

The Station Officer of Gosainganj police station,Sanjay Mishra,said: “We have raided his Rajajipuram Colony home,a BJP corporator’s house in Aminabad,one of his relatives in trans-Gomti area since last night. He,however,is yet to be traced.” Mishra said the police was considering making a recommendation to book Rai under the National Security Act.

Rai was not available for comment. His three cellphones,and those of his wife Kusum Rai,were either switched off or not reachable. Kusum Rai was not at home.

The issue was related to damage to the visitors’ car,for which they had rebuked the parking attendant. The attendant called Rai,who arrived with some men and they allegedly attacked Arvind Kumar Singh,Sunil Srivastava,PK Srivastava and Anil Saxena,business executives,who had gone to the resort.

One of the executives said: “We do not wish to give our names as we have families and we do not want any problem. We have already got umpteen calls asking us not to talk much on the issue.”

The Dream Valley Resort is a privately owned picnic spot,with huts,lush green lawns and games. It is often booked by corporate clients for organising their get-togethers. On Monday,the resort,situated near the Indira Canal in Gosainganj,was closed. The employees refused to give any reason. Asked about Rai,one of the employees said: “We know him as one of the owners. There are three sahabs who own this resort,but the others do not live in Lucknow. Rajesh Sahab is often here,managing things.” Resort manager Shravan Kumar,who was arrested and sent to jail,told police that Rai owns the resort and it functions under his supervision,said SO Sanjay Mishra.

Upadhyaya said: “Rai has a full-time job in the department and cannot own or run a commercial establishment without permission from the government. Stern action will be taken against him after the department receives the police report on his role in the crime and if he owns the resort.”

This is not the first time Rai has been involved in a controversy. In April 2006,when he was acquiring land for his resort,he was accused of forcibly grabbing the land of three farmers. They lodged a complaint with the State Backward Class Commission,where Rai was called thrice for hearing. The case was closed after the complainant agreed to sell off the land. State BJP general secretary Swatantra Dev Singh said Rai was being harassed.

CASES AGAINST RAI
* Under Sections 147,148 and 149 (punishment for rioting,rioting armed with deadly weapon and members of unlawful assembly guilty of common offence),307 (attempt to murder),354 (assault or criminal force to woman to outrage her modesty),323(causing hurt),504 (insult to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the IPC.
* After he escaped from the police station,cases under Sections 147/332 (detering public servant from duty),353 (assault to deter public servant from discharge of his duty),224 (resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension) and under the Criminal Law Amendment Act.