Indore: In a significant development, the local court has escalated legal actions against politician Akshay Kanti Bam and his father Kanti Bam, issuing arrest warrants due to their non-appearance in a longstanding land dispute case. The Bams, who recently defected to the BJP from the Congress, were scheduled to present themselves before the court today but failed to do so.
Akshay Bam, represented by his lawyer, sought to excuse his absence by citing commitments to a family event, while his father claimed ill health. However, the court dismissed these reasons and mandated their arrest, ordering that they be brought before the court by July 8th.
In a twist to the case, Akshay Bam was reportedly seen attending public events with political figure Kailash Vijayvargiya, despite his stated family obligations.
The case, which dates back to 2007, involves a violent altercation and property damage in a land feud with Yunus Patel of Khajrana. Last month, the court intensified the charges against the Bams, adding Section 307 attempt to murder to the list of accusations, which already included rioting and assault.
The complainant’s counsel, Mukesh Deval, argued for the revocation of the Bams’ bail, given the serious nature of the updated charges. The court’s decision to issue arrest warrants came after considering the applications from both parties.
The dispute took a violent turn on October 4, 2007, when the accused allegedly attacked workers on Patel’s land, destroyed crops, and later, in a confrontation, attempted to shoot Patel.
This legal battle has seen many turns, including Akshay Bam’s abrupt withdrawal from the Lok Sabha candidacy for the Congress party, followed by his switch to the BJP a move that coincided with the escalation of charges against him.
The court has taken a firm stance, demanding the submission of the case diary from the Khajrana police station and further documentation regarding the custody of the accused. With the hearing set for May 10, the court’s issuance of arrest warrants marks a critical juncture in this 17-year-old legal saga.
