NEW DELHI: Amidst high drama, ruling Aam Aadmi Party MLA Dinesh Mohaniya was arrested on charges of molestation and sexual harassment in the national capital on Saturday while he was addressing a press conference. His arrest triggered confrontation with Centre and AAP government with angry Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of declaring an “emergency in Delhi”.
Mohaniya, who is also vice chairman of Delhi Jal Board, was asked by the police officials to stop the press conference in between in Khanpur in South Delhi at around 12.10 pm and come along with them. Thereafter, he was immediately arrested.
“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),” said Joint Commissioner of Police(south East) RP Upadhyay.
Another senior officer said that summons was issued to him to join the probe twice but he did not cooperated. Ishwar Singh DCP said, “He was summoned by police after a complaint was filed against him”, Singh said, adding, “He didn’t cooperate. Since allegations against him was serious, we had to arrest him. He will now be produced before Magistrate.”
The Delhi court sent Mohaniya to judicial custody till Monday on charges of alleged molestation and sexual harassment.
Reacting sharply to the arrest, Kejriwal said in a tweet, “Modi declares emergency in Delhi. Arresting, raiding, terrorising, filing false cases against all those whom Delhi elected.”
In another tweet, he said, “Dinesh mohaniya arrested from his press conference in front of all TV cameras. What message does Modi want to give to everyone?”
Meanwhile, the AAPcalled for the arrest of Leuitenant Governor Najeeb Jung, and BJP leaders Maheish Girri and Kanwar Singh Tanwar in relation with the murder of North MCD corporator MM Khan.
Mohaniya is the eight AAP MLA to be arrested by Delhi Police since the party came to power for the second time in Delhi February 2015.
The MLA was booked on June 23 for allegedly misbehaving with a group of women, who approached him with a complaint regarding water crisis in their locality. An FIR under Sections 323, 506 and 509 was registered in south Delhi's Neb Sarai police station.
The police added Sections of assault or criminal force on woman, making sexually coloured remarks, assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe and after two of the complainants presented themselves before a magistrate on Friday and their statements were recorded under Section 164 of CrPC.
In their statements, the women alleged that Mohaniya also molested them during the tussle on June 22 as they had gone to complain to him against water problem faced by them.
In their complaint, they had earlier told police that the MLA and his men had verbally abused them and threatened them.
Another case has been registered against Mohaniya at Govindpuri Police Station for allegedly slapping a 60-year-old man in Tughlaqabad area on Friday. Last year, also a case was registered against him.