Sanjeev Baliyan, a member of BJP government at the Center and also a Member of Parliament from Muzaffarnagar, surrendered after a local court issued bailable warrant against him for failing to appear in the court in connection with 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots case.

This was after the local issued two bailable warrants on October 25 and November 24 that Mr. Baliyan surrendered.

The first bailable warrant was issued against him on October 25 after he had failed to appear in the court despite repeated summons.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Sitaram had on November 24 asked Mr. Baliyan and six others including BJP MP Bhartendra Singh, party MLA Suresh Rana and VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi, to appear in the court on December 18. They are accused of inciting violence through their speeches in a Mahapanchayat in Nagla Mandaur on August 30, 2013, ahead of the Muzaffarnagar riots.

The prosecution lawyer in the case alleged delay due to the non-appearance of the accused including Mr. Baliyan.

“The case required appearance of the accused for its timely disposal. Their non-appearance is resulting in extreme delays,” the prosecution lawyer said.

The accused were charged under section 188 (violating prohibitory orders), section 354 (assault or criminal force to deter public servants from discharging his duty) and 341 (wrongful restraint) of the Indian Penal Code.

About 60 people were killed and 40,000 displaced in the communal clashes in the aftermath of angry and retaliatory mahapanchayats by Muslims and Hindus in the area.

Mr. Baliyan who allegedly participated in the Mahapanchayat, later got the BJP ticket in the 2014 General elections and won the seat.

Later, the Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi included him in his cabinet, a move which invited lots of flak as Mr. Baliyan faces serious charges for his alleged role in allegedly inciting violence during the riots. Mr. Baliyan and the BJP had rejected the charge against Mr. Baliyan as "politically motivated" and "political vendetta" by the Samajwadi Party government.