Patna,(BiharTimes): Former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi and minister of road construction Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh on Monday filed petitions in a local court here seeking closure of a case filed by the latter against the former.

Lallan had filed the case under Section 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against Rabri Devi for allegedly using abusive language against him during an election rally on the eve of 2009 Lok Sabha election. Lallan fought and became the Janata Dal (United) MP.

According to Vijay Shankar Dubey and Sirajul Haque, lawyers of Lallan and Rabri respectively, petitions have been filed on behalf of their clients in a district court for mutual compromise and closure of the case. They also said that in view of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) being on leave, the matter will be taken up for hearing and disposal on February 7.

It needs to be recalled that Lallan Singh had also appeared before a court on May 25, 2009, to explain his points before the judge. He produced four eyewitnesses to corroborate the charges against Rabri Devi. The latter had filed a petition on August 31, 2009 pleading for exemption from personal appearance in the matter. The court had granted her conditional exemption on January 23, 2010. But she was asked to appear before the court at the time of framing of charges.

The charges were framed against her on February 26, 2010 and since then the case has been pending at the trial stage.The compromise between the two leaders is a pointer to the fact that the two parties––RJD and JD(U) are coming closer to merger.