In an embarrassment for ruling Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi, its MLA Manoj Kumar was on Thursday arrested by police in connection with a case of alleged cheating and land grabbing — the second arrest of a party lawmaker in a month.
Mr. Kumar, MLA from Kondli in East Delhi, was questioned in New Ashok Vihar Police station in connection with the case and later arrested.
“We have arrested him in a case of cheating. The case was registered in New Ashok Vihar Police station,” Joint Commissioner of Police, Eastern Range, Sanjay Beniwal said.
He said the MLA has been charged under Section 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine forged document, 420 (cheating), 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC.
Mr. Kumar is the second AAP law maker to be arrested by Police. On June 9, the then Law Minister Jitendra Singh Tomar was arrested on charges of possessing fake degrees. Mr. Tomar had later resigned from the Cabinet and has been in judicial custody.
Investigators said a case of cheating was registered against Mr. Kumar last year.
“This is an old matter related to land fraud,” Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi said.
A case of cheating was registered against Mr. Kumar following allegations that he duped his business partner Vinod of Rs 6 lakh.
Mr. Vinod had alleged in his complaint to the police that Mr. Kumar used to work as a property dealer before venturing into politics.
He further claimed that he was Manoj’s business partner and had given Rs six lakh to him to purchase a plot in November 2012 but he did not repay the amount.
Sent to police custody
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler sent Kumar, MLA from Kondli in east Delhi, to police custody till July 11 after investigating agency said some recoveries were to be made from him.
The police sought seven days custody of Kumar saying he has to be interrogated and several recoveries, including documents, money and stamps, have to be made from him.
AAP slams Centre
The AAP on Thursday slammed the Centre over the arrest of its MLA Manoj Kumar and said the Delhi police was being used by the BJP as a "political weapon" and the party is prepared to face the challenge.
Attacking the BJP, the party said there have been so many deaths in the Vyapam scam and still there has been no arrest hereas the police is showing promptness in arresting AAP leaders.
"The case pertains to February 2014. Since then there has been no investigation, no summons. This is nothing but vindictiveness. The police is being used as a political weapon against us and we are ready for it," said AAP spokesperson Deepak Bajpai.