NEW DELHI: There is high drama surrounding the arrest of BJP leader Tajinder Bagga from Delhi by Punjab Police this morning. The police taking Bagga to Mohali has been stopped in Haryana.
BJP is calling this a witch hunt by AAP, as Bagga had been critical of Delhi CM and AAP national convener Arvind Kajriwal.
Here’s how the events unfolded on Friday morning:
The Friday morning arrest
Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga (36), Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) national secretary, was on Friday arrested from his residence in Delhi by Punjab Police.
Around 50 cops in 10-12 vehicles came to arrest Bagga from his residence.
However the team, while taking Bagga to Mohali by road, was stopped near Kurukshetra by the Haryana Police.
Asked why the Punjab police team had been stopped, a Haryana police official said there was information that Bagga had been “forcibly” picked up from his residence. “We have to verify and crosscheck these things,” he said.
Vehicles bringing Bagga from Delhi to Mohali were taken to a police station in Kurukshetra’s Pipli.
Delhi Police file kidnapping case
Questions have been raised about the manner of arrest of Tajinder Bagga.
Delhi Police, which is under the Union Home ministry, registered a case of kidnapping based on a complaint by Bagga’s father that some people came to his house in Delhi’s Janakpuri around 8 am and took away his son.
“Today morning, police personnel came to our home and dragged Tajinder out. When I picked up my mobile phone to record a video of the incident, police took me to another room and punched me in the face,” said Preetpal Singh Bagga, father of Tajinder Pal Bagga.
Punjab Police however said Bagga (36) was arrested from his home in Delhi’s Janakpuri following due process of law.
“On Friday morning, by following due process of law, the accused has been arrested from his home in Janakpuri, New Delhi. He is being brought to Punjab and will be produced before a court,” a statement by Punjab Police said.
‘Arrested for not joining investigation’
Last month, the Punjab Police booked Bagga on the charges of making provocative statements, promoting enmity and criminal intimidation. The case was registered on a complaint of AAP leader Sunny Ahluwalia, a resident of Mohali.
Punjab Police claimed that despite being served five notices, he did not join the investigation.
“The accused was served five notices under Sections 41 A CrPC to come and join the investigation. The notices dated April 9, 11, 15, 22 and 28 were duly served upon. Despite that, the accused deliberately did not join the investigation,” the statement said.
There is a proper video recording (of his arrest). An FIR is registered with us at cybercrime Mohali. We served pro… https://t.co/pH71SDGqUS— ANI (@ANI) 1651824232000
The FIR against Bagga was registered under relevant IPC sections, including 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place, etc.), 505 (whoever makes, publishes or circulates any statement, rumour or report) and 506 (criminal intimidation).
Bagga has been attacking Delhi chief minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal for his remarks on ‘The Kashmir Files’.
Politics over arrest
BJP has said Bagga was arrested from Delhi illegally by Punjab police. The party cited a Delhi High court ruling which says arrest can’t be done without informing the local police, and alleged procedural lapses.
“BJYM will do everything in our capacity to bring Bagga back to safety and liberty,” party MP Tejasvi Surya tweeted.
BJP workers protested against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Police outside Janakpuri police station.
AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj however defended the Punjab Police action.
“Tajinder Bagga tweets to instigate violence in Punjab; it means BJP leaders in Delhi trying to spread communal violence in Punjab. Punjab Police working to maintain peace in the state. Delhi Police and Haryana Police trying to protect such gundas,” he said.
(With agency inputs)
