Chandigarh stalking case: CCTV video shows Vikas Barala's SUV following Varnika Kundu's car
Vikas Barala was arrested on Saturday and released on bail the same day. Later, in an interview with India Today, Varnika Kundu said there had been an attempt to abduct her.
A CCTV video accessed by India Today shows Vikas Barala's white SUV trailing Varnika Kundu's car at high speed, providing a major breakthough in the Chandigarh stalking case.
Vikas is the son of Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala.
This revelation comes close on the heels of BJP MP Subramanian Swamy's announcement, reported by the news agency ANI, that he's prepared to seek a CBI inquiry in the case if necessary. The BJP leader is filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), the report said.
"The reason I have to file the PIL is because the police had already done the somersault in the FIR. They have listed only bailable offences. The police succumbed to some pressure. In the court monitor I will seek CBI inquiry, if necessary, with the SIT so that justice is done ," ANI's report quoted Swamy as saying.
The veteran leader had on Monday stated his intention to file the petition.
- Subhash Barala's son Vikas was arrested on Saturday and booked for stalking (a bailable office) a Chandigarh woman, after hours of confusion about the nature of charges to be brought against him. A friend of his was booked as well.
- He was granted bail the very same day.
- Section 341 (wrongful restraint) was added to the FIR only later.
- His alleged victim, Varnika Kundu, told India Today's Preeti Choudhury that there was even an attempt to abduct her.
- Both she and her father, senior IAS officer Virender Kundu, have vowed to fight for justice. They've said they won't bow down to any kind of political pressure.
- Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday seemed to suggest it was inappropriate to punish the father for the son's alleged crime.
- Despite mounting pressure, Subhash Barala has refused to step down as the president of the Haryana BJP.
- Meanwhile, the Chandigarh Police have recovered CCTV footage from five cameras, seen as crucial evidence needed to establish that Varnika Kundu was indeed stalked. The recordings may help police tighten their case against Vikas Barala.
- Chandigarh Senior Superintendent of Police Eish Singhal said: "We are investigating the case with an open mind. If any section has to be added at a later stage, we will do it."
- A Haryana BJP leader, Ramveer Bhatti, asked what Varnika Kundu was doing out so late at night.
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