Lucknow: Terming her arch rival Mulayam Singh Yadav's challenge to arrest him as irresponsible, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on April 16 said action would be taken against the Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo in connection with first information reports (FIRs) filed against him after completion of necessary legal procedures.

Asserting that police would act in an impartial manner, Mayawati, in a statement said the SP leaders were issuing "hollow statements to gain political mileage".

"Yadav and SP general secretary Amar Singh are in the habit of making irresponsible statements. Their challenge to arrest them on the basis of the FIRs filed in connection with the misuse of the discretionary fund is politically motivated," the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) vice-president said.

Action would be taken only after completion of necessary legal procedures, Mayawati said.

Alleging that Yadav violated rules while disbursing fund, she said the discretionary fund could be utilised only in cases of natural calamities.

"Only up to Rs 35,000 or half of the amount of losses due to natural calamities can be disbursed through the fund.

"But Yadav violated rules and gave away more than Rs one lakh in almost 600 cases," Mayawati said.

As many as 350 cases were investigated, out of which 180 cases of misuse of funds were detected, she said adding Yadav's action in disbursing the amount above the limit amounted to financial irregularity and he should be treated as "guilty".

PTI