A local business firm, which was associated with the project of installing statues of elephants at parks and memorials across Uttar Pradesh during the BSP regime, has been booked for allegedly denying payment to two contractors involved in the work, police said in Lucknow on Monday.

An FIR was registered against Gayatri traders on a complaint filed by Agra-based businessmen Mara Prakash and Laxmi Narain with Gomti Nagar police station yesterday, they said.

The duo alleged the firm, - which had awarded them contracts for making, carving and polishing statues of the elephants - has refused their due payment of Rs four lakh.

After execution of the contract, they were paid Rs 14.62 lakh each but payment of Rs two lakh each to them were not made on grounds that it was yet to be cleared by the state government, the contractors stated in the complaint.

The complainant alleged the agency not only refused to make the payment but also threatened them of dire consequences, if they approach it for the money again.

Gayatri Traders was one of the main agencies, which had got the project of supplying statues and idols of dalit icons and elephants (BSP symbol) for the parks and memorials that had come up during the Mayawati's regime.

Meanwhile, Gayatri traders owner Devendra Singh claimed the two complainants have not finished a part of the job. He also alleged the two have been demanding Rs two lakh from him and threatening him over phone to get him booked in a police case.