Bhopal, Oct 7 (IANS) The Madhya Pradesh police have named Revenue Minister Kamal Patel’s son and his friends for the alleged murder of a Congress leader’s son in March, according to sources. The minister’s son, Sudeep Patel, and his friends allegedly barged into Harda district Congress leader Rajendra Patel’s house in March during which an exchange of fire took place between the alleged intruders and the family members, the sources said.

Rajendra in his complaint to the police said: “Sudeep came with his friends to my home and asked me to withdraw corruption charges against his father Kamal Patel (the revenue minister). When I refused, he fired several rounds from his Mauser (hand-gun).”

Rajendra Patel’s son Gajendra, who was injured in the firing, went missing during the melee and the father suspected that his son was dead and Sudeep and his friends had disposed of the body.

He later filed a petition in the Madhya Pradesh High Court praying the court either to direct the police to find his missing son or order a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the incident.

The high court later issued notices to the police and the administration, seeking a reply on the next hearing Oct 14.

Following the notice, the Harda police interrogated some suspects, including security personnel posted at Kamal Patel’s residence.

One of the security persons, Balmukund Sharma, has confided to the police that on the day of the incident, Sudeep and his friends had come with an injured youth, whose head was hanging outside the vehicle, the sources said.

Based on this statement, the police have registered a murder case against Sudeep and his friends - including Arun Jaat, Manoj Kushwaha, Deepak Saran and Amit Patel.

The police have also registered a case against Rajendra Patel, who too was involved in the firing incident.