Ranchi, April 24 (IANS) Heeralal Mahto, whose court petition led to a police complaint against Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, now wants to withdraw the complaint.

Mahto had gone underground after the Ranchi district court - hearing his petition in a cheque bouncing case - directed the police to lodge a complaint against Koda under sections 384 and 386 of the Indian Penal Code March 26.

In 2004, Mahto had charged Koda with non-payment for a house purchased from a housing board. Koda had given a Rs.200,000 cheque to Mahto that allegedly bounced.

Now Mahto has filed a withdrawal petition in the court, saying he "does not want to further pursue the case as a settlement has been made".

The hearing of the case came up Monday but the court refused to issue any fresh directive and fixed May 17 as the next date for hearing.

"It is the police that has to act according to law. The court has already issued a directive to the police," the court said Monday.

The chief judicial magistrate's court of G.K. Mallik had directed the Ranchi police to lodge the complaint against Koda. After the court direction Mahto went into hiding.

"My client was getting calls from the police to withdraw the case. What can one do if he is pressurised by the police. Police was directed to lodge a complaint but my client was under pressure from them," said Mahto's lawyer Nandu Prasad.