Hyderabad, Aug 19 - The Andhra Pradesh government has withdrawn a 2003 criminal case against former union minister A. Narendra, who was expelled from the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and joined the ruling Congress in March this year.

The state government Tuesday night issued the order withdrawing the case of assaulting policemen during the Ganesh immersion procession here in 2003. This was done despite the police chief and public prosecutor recommending to the government not to withdraw the case.

Narendra, who was expelled by the TRS in 2007 for his alleged involvement in a human trafficking scandal, had voted in favour of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government during the trust vote in the parliament last year.

After his expulsion from TRS, Narendra floated a separate outfit, which he subsequently merged with the Congress.

Narendra was booked on Oct 10, 2003, for allegedly assaulting and obstructing policemen who had stopped the Ganesh procession from passing in front of the historic Mecca Masjid during the time for prayers.