Harya BJP chief's son arrested for stalking

Police officials told IANS that Vikas and Ashish were granted bail as the sections imposed against them were bailable. The victim, daughter of a senior Harya cadre IAS officer, shared her traumatic experience in a Facebook post. The victim, who was driving towards adjoining Panchkula town, alleged that both men followed her in their Tata Safari Storm SUV (HR 23-G-1008) from the Sector 7 area. She said she was driving alone from Sector 8 in Chandigarh towards Panchkula around 12.15 a.m. (on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday) when the two youth started following her. She said that the SUV pulled up close to her car several times and even tried to block her way to force her to other routes. She claimed that at one point, the SUV blocked her way and one youth jumped out of it and started walking towards her vehicle. While she reversed at full speed and tried to evade them, they continued to follow her.

The victim then called up the Police Control Room and gave the number details of the SUV. Police intercepted the car at the boundary of Chandigarh and Panchkula (which is in Harya). Deputy Superintendent of Police, East, Satish Kumar said that the youth were arrested and booked under section 354 D (for stalking a woman) of the Indian Pel Code (IPC). Section 341 IPC (wrongful restraint) was later added against the accused.

“We have arrested both the accused. We got their medical examition done and it was confirmed that they were under the influence of liquor,” Kumar told media. He confirmed that one of the suspects was related to a senior BJP leader of Harya. Both the accused are law students. Police sources told IANS that the Chandigarh Police was under pressure from political leaders in Harya and the Central government to dilute the case against Vikas and his friend.

Subhash Barala is a sitting legislator of Harya’s ruling BJP from Toha assembly seat and a powerful Jat leader. (IANS)