11 MLA’s arrested; 56 still left! Is AAP on the track to set a new record?
11 MLAs arrested; 56 to go. The pattern of AAP MLAs being arrested for various reasons is quite unique but an everyday chorus now. Any news related to some AAP MLA’s arrest does not even creates a sensation now. No ‘sansani’ episodes anymore on AAP! But wait, what about the rest of the MLAs? Who are still left untouched of the controversies and are still out of the police jeep. Ever since the Aam Aadmi Party formed its government in Delhi, the party and the government both have hogged the headlines for various reasons. Anyway, till now this has been the story:
Prakash Jarwal: Arrested for a day in 2014 for allegedly thrashing a Junior DJB engineer in 2014. Case has gone stagnant since then. Latest case against him was on July, however thanks to the court (No action against AAP MLA Prakash Jarwal till July 18: Court) he has not been arrested again.
Naresh Yadav: Arrested by Punjab Police because the VHP guy who burned Quran in Punjab told Police that this MLA from Delhi asked him to. The bail has been given as well.
Dinesh Mohaniya: Arrested (while he was doing live Press Conference!) for allegedly molesting a woman. I saw the video of molestation which TIMES NOW aired. This guy was not in the video at all. Later bail was granted because court:
Observed no purpose would be served by keeping him in judicial custody because the investigation was almost complete.
Took into consideration the arguments of his counsel senior advocate HS Phoolka that there was a violation of procedure and law by the police authorities
Jagdeep Singh: Arrested because a waste management company accused him of assault. Some locals approached the complainant, Mohit, a manager with a waste management company, for a truck to be used for Shab-e-Barat. After Mohit declined, the locals forcefully took over the truck, which led to an argument. The MLA had intervened on behalf of the locals on which Mohit filed a complaint against the MLA. After being let off briefly following complaints of high blood pressure, the MLA was called back to the police station for bail formalities.
Mahendra Yadav: A 3 year old was raped and Delhi Police was hesitant of registering a case for whatever reasons. When the locals and the local MLA protested, a case or rioting was registered against the incumbent MLA and he was subsequently arrested. Later he released on bail.
Akhilesh Tripathi: He was arrested for a case of 2013 for allegedly using his influence over PWD officials to allow illegal use of a government flat. The case was eventually dismissed Court rejects complaint against AAP MLA Tripathi
Somnath Bharti: He was arrested for alleged domestic violence. Later the court granted him bail. In the bail order, the court observed (Domestic violence case: Bail for AAP MLA Somnath Bharti, clean chit for his dog Don):
The canine, accused of attacking Lipika, does not respond on his command.
It “finds no medical evidence” in support of the incident of alleged wrist slit and added medical records only mention about “old cut marks but no external injury”
No purpose is going to be served by keeping the applicant further in custody
Surinder Singh: Read How far is the arrest of AAP MLA Commando Surinder Singh justified? He was eventually released on bail and the court observed political vendetta.
Amanatullah Khan: Arrested because a woman file a complaint that she was harassed and threatened by some AAP worker
due to orders of the MLA. The bail was given and the cops were questioned (and reprimanded) ~ Okhla MLA granted bail, cops questioned – Times of India
Jitendra Singh Tomar: He was arrested because of producing supposed fake education credentials. Even the RTI that he gave to Delhi CM came out to be fake. He was fired as the Law Minister and arrested by the Delhi Police. Right now he’s on bail, however the Delhi Police has not produced a charge-sheet till now, although it has been more than an year of his arrest.
Manoj Kumar: Although multiple FIRs are there against him, he has been arrested on the charges of land grabbing. He was arrested on July 2015 and subsequently released on bail after the court observed that “the case was based on documentary evidence and there was no chance of its tampering by the accused”
Sharad Chauhan: He’s right now in jail in the case of AAP volunteer Soni. It is blamed that Ramesh Bharadwaj who allegedly harassed her was close to this MLA. AAP has disowned Bharadwaj. Incidentally Ramesh was initally arrested on 2nd June, got bail on 3rd June and later on 18th June a court had put a stay on his further arrests.
The only AAP MLA, who was proactively dismissed from the Minister after an audio clip against him surfaced – Asim Khan, against whom Delhi CM asked for the CBI inquiry, has still not been arrested!
By the way, as you can see, almost in all cases, the court has either dismissed the case, or called the arrest unnecessary.
Delhi Police doesn’t have infinite resources. If they have started to focus on opening false cases against the Delhi MLAs, it is obvious that they would have to reduce their focus from other activities. You know, some mundane and boring activities like protecting the Delhi people!
(Source: Quora)