Lucknow: Following Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's offensive against Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, police on April 16 filed a series of cases against him across the state for alleged misuse of government fund, even as SP moved Allahabad High Court seeking quashing of the First Information Reports (FIRs) against its leaders.

Official sources said acting on the FIRs filed against Yadav for alleged misuse of discretionary fund when he was UP Chief Minister in 1995 by Mayawati government, police arrested a former principal and four managers of different schools, which allegedly distributed money from the discretionary fund in Ambedkar Nagar.

A criminal case was lodged against Yadav and a school manager Iqbal Singh for alleged misuse of funds in Ghaziabad district, inspector general of police, Meerut zone, Karambir Singh said. The FIR was the third against Yadav in Ghaziabad district.

In a counter measure, SP general secretary Amar Singh on April 16 filed a petition in Allahabad High Court (hearing for which will take place on April 17) seeking quashing of the FIRs registered against him, Mulayam Singh Yadav and other party leaders by the state government and stay on their arrest.

Singh, in his petition, said the FIRs were "politically motivated" and he apprehended that those named in them could be arrested any time under Mayawati's pressure.

Singh told 'Aaj Tak' that SP would lodge 18 FIRs against Mayawati charging her with corruption and wasteful expenditure.

Meanwhile, SP state general secretary Shiv Pal Singh Yadav claimed the party has "irrefutable evidence" that the Chief Minister "misused Rs 200 crore of public money and spent that amount on organising party rallies, her birthday celebration, and purchasing items of luxury and comfort for her bungalow".

PTI