Supreme Court Stays Criminal Proceedings Against Swami Prasad Maurya Amid Marital Dispute

The Supreme Court has halted criminal proceedings against former Uttar Pradesh minister Swami Prasad Maurya related to a marital dispute involving his daughter, ex-MP Sanghmitra Maurya. The court issued a notice to the UP government on an appeal following an Allahabad High Court's refusal to quash the proceedings.

The Supreme Court on Friday suspended criminal proceedings involving former Uttar Pradesh minister Swami Prasad Maurya in a marital dispute concerning his daughter and ex-MP, Sanghmitra Maurya. A bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Aravind Kumar issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government, acting on an appeal challenging an Allahabad High Court decision.

Maurya sought intervention from the top court after the Allahabad High Court's Lucknow bench declined to annul criminal charges against him initiated by Deepak Kumar Swarnkar, who claims to be Sanghmitra's husband. The complaint alleges harassment and intimidation, linked to a promised marriage conducted according to Buddhist rituals.

Earlier, a special MP-MLA court labeled Swami Prasad and Sanghmitra as absconding in the harassment case. The High Court’s rejection of their appeal prompted them to move to the Supreme Court, seeking quashing of the criminal proceedings.