Court rejects bail plea of AAP MLA held after worker’s suicide

New Delhi, Aug 1 (IANS) A court here on Monday dismissed the bail plea of AAP legislator Sharad Chauhan, who was arrested along with five others here, in connection with the suicide of a woman party worker, and sent him to 14 days judicial custody.

Metropolitan Magistrate Ashish Aggarwal rejected the bail application of Chauhan and remanded him in judicial custody till August 15.

During the argument on Chauhan's bail plea, his defence counsel told court that he was falsely implicated in the case on account of political rivalry.

The Delhi Police opposed his bail plea on the ground of pendency of investigation which is at initial stage and the possibility of the accused person that he can influence or threaten witnesses.

The court also remanded other arrested accused - suspended Delhi Police Assistant Sub-Inspector Mukhtiyar Singh, Sonu alias Virendra Mann, Mohan Lal Verma, Sanjay Kumar, Amit Kumar, Rajnikanth alias Rajni and Ramesh Bhardwaj to 14 days judicial custody.

All, except Bhardawaj, were arrested on Sunday and presented before court on Monday after expiry of their one day custody. Bhardwaj, who was arrested last week, was presented before court after expiry of his five days police custody.

The woman worker, Soni, committed suicide on July 19 after being allegedly harassed by Bhardwaj. The mother of two daughters had left behind a self-shot WhatsApp video in which she claimed "I was denied justice".

According to police, in her video clip, the woman accused Bhardwaj, Amit Kumar and Rajnikanth of torturing her to withdraw a sexual harassment complaint she filed against Bhardwaj on June 2.

In her police complaint, Soni had alleged that Bhardwaj harassed her continuously and asked for sexual favours. She even raised the matter within the party but no action was taken, she said.