New Delhi, June 25 (PTI): Delhi police on Saturday arrested an Aam Aadmi Party lawmaker in front of reporters and television cameras, prompting Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to accuse Prime Minister Narendra Modi of having declared an "emergency" in the capital.
The police said Dinesh Mohaniya, a member of the legislative assembly, was arrested on charges of molestation and sexual harassment on the basis of complaints filed by a group of women who had gone to meet Mohaniya on June 22 to complain about water supply in their area.
Mohaniya, who is also the vice-chairman of Delhi's water supply utility, is said to have verbally abused the women, and also molested them in the melee.
”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.
Delhi police reports to the Union home ministry, and not to the Delhi government.
Kejriwal said in a tweet, “Modi declares emergency in Delhi. Arresting, raiding, terrorizing, filing false cases against all those whom Delhi elected.”
In another tweet, the Kejriwal said, “Dinesh mohaniya arrested from his press conference in front of all TV cameras. What msg does Modi want to give to everyone?”
Mohaniya is the eighth AAP MLA to be arrested by Delhi Police since the party came to power for the second time in Delhi February 2015.
Mohaniya 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. An FIR under Sections 323, 506 and 509 was registered in south Delhi's Neb Sarai police station.
The police added Sections 354, 354 A, 354 B and 354 C of IPC after two of the complainants presented themselves before a magistrate on Friday and their statements were recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Another case has been registered against Mohaniya at Govindpuri Police Station for allegedly slapping a 60-year-old man in Tughlaqabad area on Friday.
