SP MLA booked for ‘abusive’ remarks against BJP candidate

AN FIR has been lodged against SP MLA Attaur Rahman on charges of making “verbally abusive” remarks against Chhatrapal Gangwar, the BJP’S LS candidate from Bareilly, his nephew during a public meeting, police said.

Rahman represents the Baheri assembly seat in Bareilly district.

The case was registered under Sections 153-A (promoting enmity between groups), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), and 500 (punishment for defamation) of the Indian Penal Code at the Kotwali police station in Bareilly on Saturday based on a complaint filed by Jitendra Kumar, a local resident who claimed to be a BJP worker.

Dinesh Kumar Sharma, SHO, Kotwali police station, said the complainant claimed to be in possession of a video clip with the MLA’S remarks against Gangwar and his nephew. “We have asked the complainant to provide us with the video. Once we examine the footage, we can ascertain whether the MLA indeed made the abusive comments mentioned in the FIR," said the SHO.

If the allegations were found to be true, the next course of action would be taken, he added.

According to the police, Jitendra alleges that the SP MLA termed Gangwar and his nephew as robbers during an address at Nehru Yuva Kendra on April 16.

The complainant also accused the legislator of accusing Chhatrapal and his nephew of extorting money from businessmen and land-grabbing and declaring his intentions to rid Bareilly of them, the police.

Also, attempts were made through the speech to stoke religious tension and disrupt communal harmony, the complainant claimed.