AAP MLAs Arrested For ‘Assaulting Delhi Chief Secy’ At CM Kejriwal’s Residence

A day after Delhi Chief Secretary accused CM’s MLAs manhandling him at the latter’s residence, Delhi police have arrested both Amanatullah Khan and Prakash Jarwal on the Chief Secretary’s complaint.

The Delhi Police detained Kejriwal’s advisor IAS, V K Jain for questioning and released him three hours later. Police sources said that Jain was detained from his Maharani Bagh residence and taken to Civil Lines police station at 8 am. “We have detained him for questioning,” a police officer said.

Chief Secretary Prakash, in his complaint, had claimed that Jain was the one who had called him to attend a meeting at the CM’s residence.

Officials of the Delhi Police said that they have already arrested MLA Prakash Jarwal from Defence Colony last night and he will be produced in court Wednesday afternoon while MLA Khan has surrendered in Jamia Nagar Police Station on Wednesday morning.

Prakash in his complaint said that that Jarwal was sitting on the left of the chief secretary while MLA Amanatullah Khan was on the other side. The two had started the attack by raining blows on Prakash, police said but AAP spokesperson said that no such physical violence took place.

A case was registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) pertaining to wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, causing hurt, criminal conspiracy, insult and obstructing a public servant from discharging his duty, Special Commissioner and chief spokesperson of the Delhi Police, Dependra Pathak said in the statement released after the complaint.

Accusations flew left and right after Prakash claimed he had been "held by the collar" and abused in the presence of Kejriwal and deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia at a meeting last night. The chief minister's office dismissed the accusation as "bizarre and baseless", but government officials are on the warpath, demanding an apology from Kejriwal and strict action against the legislators involved. BJP is even demanding Kejriwals’ resignation on this.

Earier today, Jarwal had lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police on the grounds that Prakash had used "bad language" against some AAP lawmakers at last night's meeting. Jarwal claimed that the chief secretary also made casteist remarks against him and AAP MLA Ajay Dutt.

"We had asked him (Anshu Prakash) about an area where people were not getting basic facilities like medicine, the chief secretary suddenly shouted 'Maine Daliton ki thekedaari nahi le rakhi hai', his temper was high. He said 'You are not fit to be MLA, I will only reply to LG'," Jarwal said.

IAS Association Secretary Manisha Saxena, after a meeting with the Lt Governor and Prakash, termed the attack as a "planned criminal conspiracy" against the top bureaucrat in Delhi.

Meanwhile, AAP alleged that the chief secretary was making false allegations and said he was working at the "behest of the BJP."