NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party legislators Dinesh Mohaniya arrested in an alleged molestation case was sent to judicial custody for 14 days by a city court on Monday.
The Metropolitan Magistrate Bhavna Kalia rejected his bail plea of Mohaniya stating, “There is no change in the circumstances in the last two days to interfere with the duty magistrate's June 25 order. This second bail application of accused is dismissed.”
The duty magistrate on Saturday had denied him bail and sent him to Tihar jail for two days till Monday.
The Delhi Police in its plea had opposed the bail stating that the accused Mohaniya is an influence person being a legislator and if he be allowed to come out on bail, he might put pressure of witnesses and the victim in the case.
The legislator was booked on June 23 for allegedly misbehaving with a group of women who had approached him with a complaint regarding water crisis in their locality on the previous midnight. An FIR was lodged at South Delhi's Neb Sarai Police Station.
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 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).
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.
Another senior officer had 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.”
Reacting sharply to the arrest, Kejriwal had 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 had said, “Dinesh mohaniya arrested from his press conference in front of all TV cameras. What message does Modi want to give to everyone?”