Controversial BSP MLA, Jitendra Singh Babloo, has been arrested in connection with arson at UP Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi's residence two years ago. Another BSP leader, Imtezar Ahmad Abdi, has been arrested too.Singh, who represents the Bikapur constituency in Faizabad, and Abdi, chairman of Ganna Sanstha, were picked up by the CB-CID late on Thursday evening and handed over to the Hussainganj police. A case was lodged at the Hussainganj police station, official sources said.Joshi's house, located in a high-security zone in Lucknow, was vandalised and torched on the night of July 15, 2009, after she allegedly made remarks against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati.On July 19, 2009, Abdi was appointed the chairman of state sugar corporation, a move that invited the Congress's ire.On February 3 last year, a local court directed the police to lodge an FIR against the BSP MLA and nine others, including three police officers.The order was issued on an application moved by the general secretary of state Congress committee, Rajveer Singh, under section 156 (3) of the CrPC.The applicant had alleged that on the day of the incident, his car was torched by the BSP MLA, Abdi and some unidentified persons.Claiming that several documents kept in his car were destroyed in the incident, Rajveer alleged that police officers present at the spot connived with the culprits.

Admitting the application, Chief Judicial Magistrate Pramod Kumar had directed the Husainganj police to register an FIR against MLA Babloo, Abdi, the Station House Officer of Husainganj Balram Saroj, then Circle Officer Hazratganj B S Gabrial, the Superintendent of Police, East, Harish Kumar and five others.