NEW DELHI, 17 September 2006 — Uttar Pradesh’s Haj Minister Haji Yaqoob Qureshi along with his three supporters were allegedly caught traveling without tickets on board the Lucknow-Delhi Lucknow Mail train early this morning.
Railway and Government Railway Police (GRP) sources said the minister was fined Rs. 14,000 for the crime at Alamnagar railway station.
However, the minister told Arab News that he had a valid ticket and was being “harassed’’ as part of a “political conspiracy.’’ “I am writing to the center. I will later disclose names of the people harassing me,’’ he said. The GRP said the train was stopped at Alamnagar station and railway and GRP officials raided the air-conditioned compartment.
They claimed that the minister and his supporters had created a ruckus on board the train after the ticketing staff asked them for their tickets. However, the minister claimed that he and his peon, gunners and aides had tickets. But, the officials said the minister had railway coupons and not tickets. The minister denied that he was fined for the crime.
