2 AAP MLAs arrested in 12 hours; Kejriwal attacks PM Modi

The Aam Aadmi Party on Monday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the arrest of its two MLAs, saying this is a 'proof' of his frustration.

Within a span of 12 hours, two of AAP's MLAs have been arrested. Delhi Police arrested Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan for allegedly trying to run over a woman with his car, while Punjab Police has arrested Naresh Yadav, who was later remanded to police custody for two days, in an alleged case of sacrilege incident in Malerkotla, Punjab. Khan has also been sent to one-day police custody by a Delhi court.

On 24 June, the third Friday of the holy month of Ramzan, pages torn from the Quran were found lying in a drain near a cemetery in Malerkotla in Punjab. Within minutes, an angry mob had gathered there.

Yadav was arrested after one of the accused arrested in connection with the case claimed he had acted at the behest of the AAP MLA.

In Khan’s case, Metropolitan Magistrate Sheetal Chaudhary Pradhan extended the custodial interrogation by a day.

“Submissions heard. Record perused. In view of the submission made by the parties and considering that offence under Section 308 of the Indian Penal Code (attempt to commit culpable homicide) is alleged, I am of the view that the accused be remanded to police custody for one with direction to cooperate in the investigation,” the magistrate said.

The court passed the order on the application moved by the police seeking a two-day remand of Khan, claiming that accused was not cooperating in the investigation.

Opposing the plea, senior advocate H S Phoolka, appearing for Khan, submitted that initially in the FIR, bailable offences were alleged and Section 308 IPC was invoked later on the basis of the complainant’s statement which was an improvement.

The counsel alleged that Khan has been falsely implicated.

Reacting to the arrests, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said “Modi was sending Delhiites to jail under false cases”. Eleven AAP legislators have been arrested in different
cases.

Earlier, Kejriwal had likened the Bharatiy Janata Party- AAP war between the 'Kauravas and the Pandavas'. 'He (Modi) could not digest his defeat. They have put all the agencies behind us but could not unearth a single act of corruption. It’s a holy war akin to the war between Kauravas and Pandavas'.

Kejriwal asked why the prime minister had diverted entire police against his political opponents rather than protecting women.

'Why is Modiji not arresting perpetrators of crime against women? It is shameful that Modiji has diverted the entire police from protecting women to arresting his political opponents,' Kejriwal tweeted.

'Two MLAs arrested in a day is a proof his frustration. Central Bureau of Investigation, Anti-Corruption Branch, Delhi Police, Punjab Police,' his deputy Manish Sisodia said.

AAP leader Ashutosh said Khan was not even allowed to wear slippers and the police turned all the CCTV cameras towards the ceiling.

He also said BJP was scared because of AAP’s rising popularity.

'Amanatullah was not even allowed to wear slippers while arresting all the CCTV cameras were turned towards ceiling by police. This is Modi’s law. He gives a damn to law and evidences. People are watching. AAP’s rising graph has scared Modi (sic),' Ashutosh tweeted.

In a press conference on Sunday, Khan had alleged that the station house officer of Jamia Nagar Police station had tutored the woman to name Khan in the case and also released a video to buttress his claim.

He also alleged that the woman was in touch with Bharatiya Janata Party leaders.

Comparing the arrest of Patidars in Gujarat to ones in Delhi, Kejriwal tweeted, 'In Gujarat, Anandiben sends Dalits and Patidars to jail under false cases. In Delhi, Modiji sends Delhiites to jail under false cases. Now Delhi and Gujarat will fight (against this) together.'

'The same Delhi Police also beat the hell out of volunteers trying to file an FIR against a rapist,' (sic) Kejriwal said, re-tweeting a tweet of composer Vishal Dadlani, an ardent party supporter.

Party leader Ashish Khetan termed the arrest as the darkest time after Emergency.

'Another AAP MLA arrested on spurious charges. History will record the Modi rule as the darkest time for democracy post Emergency,' Khetan said.