Cong ex-MLA held under sedition law over LAC remark

SHIMLA:A court here on Saturday remanded former Congress MLA Neeraj Bharti, who was arrested for allegedly posting “anti-national and objectionable materials” on social media regarding the India-China border standoff in Ladakh, to four-day police custody. He was arrested on Friday on charges of sedition.

Bharti was produced before the chief judicial magistrate court, Shimla, which remanded him to police custody till June 30.

Bharti was summoned to the police station for questioning, Himachal Pradesh Police spokesperson Khushhal Sharma said on Friday. He said Bharti was quizzed for three days from June 24 to 26 on various aspects relating to the case. Subsequently, he was arrested in the case for investigation purposes.

The FIR was lodged on the basis of a complaint from lawyer Narendra Guleria.

In his complaint to the CID of the state police, Guleria alleged that messages posted by Bharti on social media were an attempt to spread hatred and disrespect the government.