Delhi: AAP MLA Rituraj Govind arrested for assault during Chhat puja

Delhi Police on Saturday night arrested Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Kirari Rituraj Govind, who has been accused of assault during Chhath Puja celebrations along the Yamuna river bank in his constituency.

Rituraj has been arrested on charges of apprehension of breach of peace during Chhath pooja.

Confirming the arrest, DCP (Outer) M N Tiwari said, "He was arrested last night on charges of apprehension of breach of peace in the area before Chhath Pooja."

Police said section 144 of the CrPC (prohibiting assembly of more than four people) was imposed in ghat area, which is a heritage property, from yesterday morning in view of the Chhath puja and the MLA had allegedly violated the order.

A day ago, Rituraj had claimed that he was detained for trying to conduct puja at a heritage site along the Yamuna river bank, even as the police said the legislator was only called for a "discussion".

According to him, he was trying to build a ghat at Nithari talaab near the expressway on the occasion of Chhat puja. Local villagers objected to by his move even as he said that the construction of the ghat was funded by the Delhi government.

The MLA alleged that there was minor stone-pelting by a group of villagers, which was led by a local BJP activist.