Meerut: An alleged bootlegger, who posed himself as a Union minister, was provided escort by local police when he went to attend a function in Meerut.

The faux pas came to light when local BJP leaders created a hue and cry on seeing Tanzeem Abbas, a resident of Falawada, saying he was not a minister enjoying the protocol of police escort and complained to senior state and central party leaders about it.

BJP Minority Cell Convener Kuwar Basit Ali even filed a complaint against the accused at the Falawada police station, police said.

"We received the order to provide escort to Tanzeem through a fax on Sunday," Superintendent of Police Traffic Meerut, PK Tiwari said on Tuesday.

 
He said the escort was promptly withdrawn after receiving complaints about his real identity.

Tanzeem, however, maintained that he is the Chairman of the Higher Education Board under the HRD Ministry and as such enjoyed the rank and status of a Union minister and the order to provide him escort came from the ministry concerned. Tanzeem is embroiled in a court case in connection with alleged liquor smuggling.
 
He was sent to jail on June 18 in a case involving smuggling of liquor worth Rs 25 lakh, Falawada police station In-charge Abdul Wasim Khan said.

Meanwhile, UP BJP chief Laxmikant Bajpai, demanded an enquiry against officials who provided security to Tanzeem.