On a day when Dehi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is set to address a rally in Surat, Aam Aadmi Party MLA and Gujarat in-charge Gulab Singh has surrendered.
In what can provoke fresh round of bickering between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Centre, a non-bailable warrant has been issued against AAP MLA from Matiala Gulab Singh, who is also co-incharge of party’s Gujarat affairs, for failing to join investigation in a case of extortion involving his alleged associates, said police.
The move came ahead of Arvind Kejriwal’s October 16 rally in Gujarat, which as per Singh is “intended to put hurdles” in the way of it. But we are not afraid of it, said Singh. Kejriwal too questioned the timing of the arrest on Twitter. “Just 2 days before Surat rally, Del police obtains Non-bailable warrant against our Guj prabhari, Gulab Singh in a completely false case. Will Gulab be arrested before the rally?” the Delhi CM had tweeted.
Just 2 days before Surat rally, Del police obtains Non-bailable warrant against our Guj prabhari, Gulab Singh in a completely false case
Also Read
UP Lok Sabha Election 2024: Abki baar 75 paar? Phalodi Satta Bazar bets on big gains for BJP in Uttar Pradesh
Maharashtra: Army personnel held for demanding Rs 2.5 crore from Sena (UBT) leader to ‘tamper with EVMs’
Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Phalodi satta bazar bets on NDA getting less than two-thirds majority
Weather Update: IMD predicts heatwave to persist in THESE states; Heavy rainfall likely in Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema & Yanam
Last month, two property dealers, Deepak Sharma and Rinku Diwan, had alleged that Satish and Devinder, who work in Singh’s office, and an associate Jagdish were extorting money from them by threatening to get the building from where the property dealers were operating demolished. A case under section 384 (punishment for extortion) IPC was registered at Bindapur police station on September 13.
“We obtained an NBW against Gulab Singh from the court last evening. He had been issued notices to join investigation but he kept giving excuses to skip questioning. His joining investigation is essential to get to the bottom of the truth in the organised extortion racket.
“We moved the court seeking an NBW and the court has granted our request. We are asking him to immediately join investigation,” said Dependra Pathak, joint commissioner of police, Southwestern range.
Meanwhile, AAP spokesperson Ashutosh termed the action against party MLAs as “dictatorship”.
“Modi’s dictatorship-one day- Dy CM interrogated by ACB, AAP Gujarat in charge Gulab Singh issued NBW, MLA Naresh Balyan arrested,” he tweeted.
AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal is on a 4-day visit to Gujarat, starting October 14. Kejriwal’s visit comes as part of AAP’s preparations for the Assembly polls in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, due next year. On October 14 and 15, Kejriwal would meet some families of the deceased Patel youths in Mehsana and Ahmedabad. He will address a rally in Surat on October 16, before leaving for Delhi on October 17 afternoon.
