In a big jolt to the alleged efforts being made by the State Government to withdraw the criminal case against sitting Baghmara MLA Dhullu Mahto, a Dhanbad court on Thursday rejected the petition filed in this regard, citing reasons that the same was not required as the case was in the last stage of hearing.

Mahto, on July 9, 2013, had surrendered before a court in Dhanbad after being accused of forcibly freeing one Rajesh Gupta from Nishitpur police station in May same year.

The court of ADJ (First Class) Vinod Kumar rejected the petition filed by the State. Mahto along with five others had been charged with obstructing policemen from discharging their duties.

Mahto was granted bail by J’d High Court after 11 months in judicial custody on June 21 in connection with forcibly freeing a person from a police station in Dhanbad.