The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
In new video, Gurgaon man retracts charges against V K Singh family
Meanwhile, retired Lt Gen, whose son is married to Singh’s daughter, seeks police cover
A SERIES of publicly circulated videos and police complaints later, Pradeep Chauhan, a Gurgaon resident who was at the centre of a row involving the family of Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh, has retracted the allegations he levelled against the family and has apologised for his behaviour.
In a new video that surfaced on Youtube Sunday, Chauhan said he had no audio or video recording on Singh and his family and wished to apologise to the family. On August 12, V K Singh’s wife Bharti had lodged an FIR against Chauhan at the Tughlak Road police station in New Delhi for allegedly blackmailing her with “doctored” audio and video recordings. She wanted Chauhan booked for extortion and criminal intimidation.
That same day, Chauhan also filed a complaint at the Sadar police station in Gurgaon against Singh and his family alleging that his life was in danger. Meanwhile, a retired Lieutenant General, whose son is married to Singh’s daughter and is involved in legal proceedings for a divorce, has allegedthathisson’slifeisindanger and needs police security.
Lieutenant General (retd) Ashok Singh submitted an application for security to the Delhi Cantonment police Saturday, after he saw a programme on a television news channel, Ok India News, which featured Chauhan.
In his letter to police, Lt Gen referred to Chauhan’s allegations and said there was a threat to the life of his son Dr Anirudh Singh, a serving Colonel.
“I have procured a recording of the statement from the channel, which I am enclosing for your reference. The programme itself could be taken from the channel and is available on Youtube India as well,” he said in his letter.
Asked about Lt Gen Ashok Singh’s application for security, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South West) Surendra Kumar said: “There is a misunderstanding between two families and one of them had given an application to Delhi Cantonment police station. As of now, they are not staying in Delhi Cantonment, but we are looking into this matter.”
The Indian Express also sought comments from VK Singh’s lawyer Vishwajeet Singh. He said, “There’s no such complaint to our knowledge. However, in the same police station, a complaint was filed by Gen V K Singh’s younger daughter in the month of May 2016 against Lt Gen Ashok Singh, his wife and son Dr. Anirudh Singh for offences of dowry demand, harassment and cruelty.”
“We have found out from the police that no complaint as iterated by you has been lodged but a serving Army officer did visit the Delhi Cantt Police station in uniform asking for security for Anirudh Singh despite the fact that he no longer lives in Delhi Cantt area. Nevertheless, you may like to know that Gen V K Singh had already written to Commissioner of Delhi Police requesting protection for Anirudh Singh in the wake of all the rumours being spread by media,” Singh’s lawyer said.
“There’s very strong likelihood that the said Pradeep Chauhan has always been acting at behest of Anirudh Singh as both of them have been talking to the same mischievous TV channel. Interestingly, said Pradeep Chauhanisalreadycirculatinganother video clip wherein he is seen apologising to Gen V K Singh and also claiming that he has no such audio or video tapes in his possession and he has been indulging in this mudslinging at behest of Anirudh Singh,” Vishwajeet Singh said in an email response to The Indian Express.