Dinesh Mohaniya becomes eighth MLA to go jail, Kejriwal accuses Modi of declaring emergency in Delhi
Confrontation between the BJP-ruled Centre and Delhi government took yet another dramatic turn on Saturday with the arrest of Aam Aadmi Party legislator Dinesh Mohaniya who was on Saturday afternoon whisked away by the police while addressing scores of media persons at a press conference. He was arrested for alleged criminal intimidation and sexual harassment.
The development led to a showdown between leader of AAP and BJP with Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal even going ahead and accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "declaring emergency". With Mohaniya becoming the eight MLA to be arrested by Delhi police so far, AAP leadership accused the Modi government of hunting down its legislators.
Mohaniya, an MLA from south Delhi's Sangam Vihar constituency, was addressing a press conference when a team Delhi police officials pulled him out of his chair in full view of news crews and journalists. The MLA, while being whisked away said, "You can see how the police is dragging me like a hooligan in front of your eyes".
The decision to arrest Mohaniya was taken after he allegedly refused to join the investigation of a complaint lodged against him despite being served a notice asking him to do so on Friday, police claimed. Mohaniya, who is also the vice-chairman of Delhi Jal Board, was booked on June 23 after locals of Sangam Vihar alleged that the MLA and his supporters roughed them up and misbehaved with women in his office when they went to complain about irregular water supply.
In their written complaint to the police, the residents of Sangam Vihar alleged the women of their locality were roughed up and expletives used against them when they had gone to see Mohaniya in his office. They further accused Mohanya of threatening to break their bones following which he forced them to leave his office.
The complainants recorded their statements before a metropolitan magistrate on Friday on the basis of which police registered a case against Mohaniya under Section 506 (criminal intimidation), Section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and Section 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code at the Neb Sarai police station.
While Mohaniya attempted to hold a press conference to discuss the case details with media, he was picked up by police, taken to Neb Sarai police station and produced in front of a magistrate who sent him on a three-day judicial custody.
"Mohaniya has been arrested under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354 A (sexual harassment), 354 B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe) and 354 C (voyeurism)," joint commissioner of police (South East) RP Upadhyay said.
As soon as visuals of Mohaniya being led away by police were broadcast, AAP leadership upped the ante against the BJP-ruled Centre.
"Modi declares emergency in Delhi. Arresting, raiding, terrorizing, filing false cases against all those whom Delhi elected" Arvind Kejriwal tweeted. "Dinesh mohaniya arrested from his press conference in front of all TV cameras. What msg does Modi want to give to everyone? (Sic.)" he said in another tweet.
Trouble of Mohaniya, however, did not end with his arrest. A second FIR was registered against him after a man accused him of slapping him in south-east Delhi's Govindpuri on Friday. A case was registered under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 341 (wrongful restraint) of the Indian Penal Code.The incident allegedly took place while Mohaniya was on a visit to Govindpuri around 2pm on Friday, said a senior police officer.
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