Jehanabad, Jan. 16 (PTI): Spelling fresh trouble for railway minister and RJD president Lalu Prasad, a court here today took cognisance of a complaint accusing him of using “abusive and insulting language” against the LJP and its leaders while campaigning for the 2005 Assembly polls.

Subdivisional judicial magistrate of Jehanabad A.K. Thakur took cognisance of the complaint under Section 504 of the IPC, which deals with matters related to “intentionally insulting and provoking any person, which may break public peace”.

The petition was filed by LJP district president Gopal Sharma who alleged that Lalu Prasad had described the party as one of “rapists and ruffians” during electioneering in Jehanabad in 2005.

The court fixed March 21 as the next date for hearing.