Just days after AAP MLA Dinesh Mohaniya was arrested for allegedly misbehaving with a woman who had approached him with complaints of water supply, another legislator from the party is in similar trouble.
Prakash Jarwal, AAP MLA from South Delhi’s Deoli constituency, has been booked for allegedly molesting and assaulting a woman in Greater Kailash area.
The alleged incident took place in early June, but the woman approached the police for a FIR against the MLA last Wednesday.
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A senior police officer said that the woman had written about the incident to the Lieutenant-Governor and the Commissioner of Police earlier, but decided to seek police action against the MLA only this month.
The MLA, who is a DJB member, has claimed innocence in the entire episode and has termed the complaint as “politically motivated”.
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Mr. Jarwal said that the woman was associated with a political party and had contested local elections in the past. “My friends in the area say she has been close to the BJP for sometime now,” Mr. Jarwal said.
The woman, a resident of Sangam Vihar, has alleged in her complaint that she was visiting the Delhi Jal Board office in GK area on June 2 when Mr. Jarwal molested and assaulted her.
The incident
“When I reached the DJB office, the MLA's men noticed me and began abusing me for repeatedly complaining about water woes in my area. They threatened that the MLA would teach me a lesson,” a senior police officer quoted the woman as saying in her complaint.
When the MLA arrived at the office around 12 noon, he allegedly hurled expletives at the woman and pushed her by her chest, almost causing her to fall.
In her complaint, the woman has expressed fear for her life from the MLA.
‘Discrepancies’
Mr. Jarwal, however, has alleged there were several “discrepancies” in the woman’s complaints to the L-G and then to the police.
The MLA said that he did meet the woman at the inauguration of the DJB office in GK, but it was on June 3 and not June 2 as claimed by the complainant.
“The woman requested me for water tankers in her area and I assured her that I would do my best. TV journalists were present there during the inauguration ceremony. Had I misbehaved with the woman, their cameras would have captured it,” the MLA said.
Mr. Jarwal claimed that in her complaint to the L-G, the woman alleged that he had only verbally abused and threatened her.
“But in her statement to police, she has alleged that I pushed her. If any woman in my constituency comes forward to say that I have misbehaved with them, I will quit politics,” the MLA said.
The police, meanwhile, appeared to be treading cautiously. Their decision to arrest Mr. Mohaniya in the midst of a presser had come under severe criticism. “We are probing the allegations against Mr. Jarwal. No decision has been taken on arresting him,” said an officer.
The MLA, who is also a DJB member, said he is innocent and called the complaint ‘politically motivated’