'As the process takes time, they insisted that their work should be done on priority basis. Soon they started beating me,' Singh told reporters.

In the FIR, Singh had alleged that Ansari was forcing him to ignore legal formalities and issue a solvency certificate in favour of an acquaintance called Sunita Mishra.

'Efforts are on to nab them. We had information that they were hiding in Lucknow. Police teams raided the legislator's residence in Varanasi and his official flat in Lucknow's Darulshafa area Tuesday,' Superintendent of Police (City) Vijay Bhushan told IANS.

Meanwhile, officials of the collectorates in Varanasi and neighboring districts of Bhadohi and Chandauli have gone on an indefinite strike demanding the arrest of all the accused.

'We will not work unless the legislator and his goons are arrested and the administration assures us of a fearless work environment,' K.P. Dubey, an official of the Bhadohi collectorate, told reporters.