M4PNews|Chandigarh
Chandigarh Police arrested Haryana BJP chief’s son Vikas Baralaand his friend on Wednesday for allegedly stalking and attempting to kidnap a woman last week.
After detailed interrogation of both accused, police booked Vikas and his friend Ashish under section 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent to secretly and wrongfully confine person) and 511 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
“Detailed interrogation of both (Ashish and Vikas) took place; two charges to be pressed against them. Attempt of abduction under two sections 365 and 511. We’ve decided to arrest both accused,” Changdigarh DGP Tejinder Singh Luthra told mediapersons at a press briefing.
The accused will be presented before court on Thursday, where the police will demand custody, the DGP added.
Police had summoned Vikas, 23, earlier in the day, asking him to appear by 11am but he reached the Sector 26 police station at around 2:30pm along with the other accused Ashish Kumar.
Vikas and Ashish had allegedly stalked, harassed and almost waylaid Varnika Kundu, who was driving alone in Chandigarh on Friday night. Both accused were bailed out within hours of the complaint being filed.
Police said on Wednesday that Vikas and his friend “refused to give” their blood and urine samples after the alleged incident Friday night, which could go against them during prosecution.
With the Chandigarh Police facing questions over its handling of the case, Luthra stressed they will do “everything under the sun” to ensure the 29-year-old complainant gets justice.
“There is no political pressure on us and we are doing everything professionally and objectively,” DGP Luthra.
The arrests came a day after police officials said they had retrieved CCTV footage of the route on which the woman was allegedly chased and were scanning it for evidence. The ruling BJP in Haryana has also distanced itself from the high-profile accused. ” Vikas ( Barala ) and BJP are both separate. The opposition parties are trying to mislead people by saying that the BJP is influencing probe in this matter. We deny this. The BJP does not have anything to do with it,” said BJP spokesperson Jawahar Yadav.