High court stays petitioner’s arrest

ALLAHABAD : The Allahabad high court on Tuesday stayed the arrest of one Vinay Kumar in connection with four criminal cases relating to Saharanpur caste violence and the alleged role of the Bhim Army in it.

The incident had taken place on May 9.

Hearing a writ petition filed by Vinay Kumar, a division bench comprising justice Krishna Murari and justice AC Sharma stayed the arrest of the petitioner.

The petitioner, Vinay Kumar, resident of Fatehpur Bahadur village in Saharanpur district, had stated that the First Information Report (FIR) was lodged by Deepak Chaturvedi, station house officer (SHO) of Kotwali Dehat relating to Saharanpur caste violence. The petitioner said the FIR had named several other people but not him, a fact that he did not at the time. Hence, apprehending his arrest, the petitioner moved a surrender application before the lower court at Saharanpur on July 26. The police authorities in their reply showed Vinay as wanted in four cases relating to Saharanpur caste violence.

The petitioner did not surrender before the lower court.

His Ratan Singh moved an, application under the Right to Information Act seeking information as to whether his son was indeed wanted in these four cases. The police authorities replied on September 22 that the petitioner Vinay was not wanted in any of the four criminal cases, for which information was sought. Appearing on behalf of the petitioner, his counsel SFA Naqvi contended that the petitioner was not named in FIR but the police were harassing him.

Hence, he requested the court to direct the police not to take any coercive step against him. Bhim Army activists had clashed with the police in Saharanpur on May 9. Over 20 vehicles were torched as activists blocked traffic to protest police action against a group of peaceful protesters, who had assembled at a park in the city. Subsequently, several persons were charged by the police for alleged looting and rioting.