Kushwaha, police offer different versions over his ‘arrest’

Kotwali police station in Patna witnessed high drama on Saturday with RLSP chief and former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha claiming he had come to court arrest but the police allowed him to go free, while the police said he was arrested and released on personal bond.

The Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) chief arrived at the police station in city along with 200 odd supporters who demanded that besides Kushwaha, the police also take action against them in connection with a clash with the securitymen last week.

Kushwaha severed ties with the BJP and resigned from the Union council of ministers on December 10, accusing PM Modi of reducing Cabinet to a “rubber stamp” and “betraying” the backward classes. After 10 days, he joined the Congress-led UPA.

After a police lathi charge on

him and RLSP workers during a Raj Bhavan march on February 2, an FIR was lodged against Kushwaha and around 200 ‘unnamed’ supporters.

Kushwaha along with some close aides were allowed inside the police station, while others were outside shouting slogans. They were also carrying pieces of paper with their names and mobile numbers written on them.

Gates of the Kotwali police stations remained shut during the period they were inside.

Emerging from the police station, Kushwaha claimed, “I had come here to court arrest since our demand that the cases against us be withdrawn was not heeded by the police. However, when I presented myself before the police, they said they did not want to take any action against me and let me go free.”

Police, however, have a different take on the matter.

“He had appeared in keeping with a notice served on him under Section 41 (1) of the CrPC. He was arrested and released upon furnishing a personal bond and a written assurance that he will cooperate with the investigation,” Deputy SP, Law and Order Kotwali, Rakesh Kumar told PTI.