Gorakhpur, Feb 11 : Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Industries Mahavir Prasad has been charged in connection to the murder of an Ujjarpur village resident Ram Pragat in Gorakhpur district.

Gorakhpur Senior Superintendent of Police Aditya Mishra informed that the Allahabad High Court had ordered the registration of a case against Prasad here last night under Section 120 B of the IPC for conspiracy to murder.

The other accused- village head of Ujjarpur, Rajesh Singh and one Gauri Shankar have been charged under Section 302 for murder, Section 201 for hiding evidence of offence or giving false information, Section 504 for insulting with an intent to provoke breach of public peace, Section 506 for criminal intimidation and violation of the SC/ST Act.

According to police, the victim''s wife Subhavati had lodged cases against the three accused. She alleged that Singh and Shankar committed her husband''s murder over a local property issue on January 28, while Prasad acted as a helping hand.

Earlier, the case was registered as a road accident.

Subhavati then had to move to the High Court after the local Chief Judicial Magistrate rejected her plea.

According to SSP Mishra, no arrest has been made so far in this connection. (ANI)