Ram Kumar Chaudhary, newly-elected legislator from Himachal Pradesh, who was absconding for the past few weeks in connection with the murder of a girl, surrendered before a Panchkula Court on Tuesday
The Haryana police had announced a cash reward of Rs. 2 lakh for any information leading to his arrest.
“The MLA surrendered before CJM (Chief Judicial Magistrate’s) Court in Panchkula today. We have taken him into custody and he will be produced before a Panchkula court later on,” Additional Director General (ADGP), Haryana Police, K.K Sharma said.
On Monday, the Haryana Police also announced a cash reward of Rs. 50,000 each for the three other accused in the case Paramjeet alias Pamma of village Haripur Sandoli, Baddi, HP, Dharampal alias Maddu of Haripur Sandoli, Baddi and Gurmeet Singh of Housing Board Colony, Baddi, district Solan, (HP).
A special police team headed by Ambala DCP Ashok Kumar had been camping in Dharamsala to execute the fresh arrest warrants issued by Panchkula court on January 5 against the accused.
Haryana DGP S.N. Vashisht had also sent a request to his Himachal Pradesh counterpart with a copy of arrest warrants for seeking their help in arresting the fugitives.
The MLA was wanted by Haryana Police in connection with the murder of a young girl, a native of Hoshiarpur in Punjab, who was found dead in Panchkula on November 22.
The post-mortem report of the girl confirmed that she died of head injuries. It was only after the investigation of the victim’s cell phone, the role of MLA came under scanner.
Butti Ram, father of the girl, had filed a complaint with Haryana police alleging that Mr. Chaudhary had close links with his daughter and that he could be involved in the murder.
Mr. Ram also alleged that Mr. Chaudhary had visited his house during the marriage of his younger daughter in September 2009.
Mr. Chaudhary, general secretary of Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee, recently won from Doon constituency in Baddi. He is the son of four-time Congress MLA, Lajja Ram.
