Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow

Lucknow, Dec 21: The Lucknow Police have issued a notice to Samajwadi Party leader Sumaiya Rana, directing her to appear before a court on Monday in connection with her alleged threat to gherao the official residence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The notice was served by the Assistant Commissioner of Police and Executive Magistrate, Kaiserbagh, asking Rana or her legal counsel to explain why a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh along with two sureties of the same amount should not be taken from her to ensure maintenance of peace for a period of one year.

According to the police, Rana had announced plans to gherao the state assembly and the chief minister’s residence in protest against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar allegedly removing the veil of a female doctor during an official function. She had also objected to Uttar Pradesh minister Sanjay Nishad’s reported support of Nitish Kumar.

Police officials said the remarks and call for protest created apprehensions of a breach of peace, especially as the legislative session is currently underway.

On Friday, Rana, who is the national vice-president of the Samajwadi Party Mahila Sabha, accused the police of placing her under house arrest, a charge denied by ACP Ratnesh Singh.

“I have been under house arrest since yesterday. The police are not registering the FIR. Since I also belong to the same community and wear a veil, I feel the pain of this incident,” Rana had told.

She had earlier filed a complaint at the Kaiserbagh Police Station on December 16, seeking action against Nitish Kumar over the incident.

The controversy stems from an event held on December 15 at Samvad, the Bihar Chief Minister’s secretariat, where appointment letters were distributed to over 1,000 newly recruited AYUSH doctors. During the ceremony, Nitish Kumar was seen pulling off the niqab of a woman doctor, a moment that was captured on video and later went viral on social media, triggering widespread criticism and political reactions.