Kanpur: A designated Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) court on August 13 framed charges against independent Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya, his father Udai Pratap Singh and Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Akshay Pratap Singh.

All the three accused, including Raja Bhaiya, were charged with keeping explosive materials and AK-47 riffle, which were recovered from the house of the Kunda MLA.

All the three accused were present before POTA Judge Shailendra Saxena when the charges were framed.

The judge fixed August 21 for arguments in a case of murder of a witness in this case.

Before framing of charges, the counsel for defence led by D D Mehta and Nand Lal Jaiswal and prosecution lawyer Mridul Rakesh put forward their respective arguments.

While Raja Bhaiya is in Kanpur district jail, his father was brought from Pratapgarh jail and MLC Akshay Pratap Singh was brought from Mirzapur jail.

Raja Bhaiya was arrested under POTA after he had led a rebellion by independent legislators against Chief Minister Mayawati in 2002.

PTI