Haryana BJP chief's son Vikas Barala, friend arrested again in Chandigarh stalking case

They were arrested on the charge of stalking the woman on last Friday night but released later.

Chandigarh stalking case accused Vikas Barala (covering face) is escorted out of a police station after his arrest, in Chandigarh on August 9, 2017. Photo: Special Arrangement

Vikas Barala, son of Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala, and his friend, Ashish Kumar, on Wednesday were arrested again after the Chandigarh police added Sections 365 and 511 of the IPC in the FIR registered already against them for allegedly stalking and harassing a young woman on on the roads of Chandigarh last week end.

Vikas and Ashish were arrested on last Friday night but released later.

(Section 365 pertains to kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly or wrongfully to confine a person) and Section 511 refers to punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment.)

“We have decided to press Sections 365 and 511 against both the accused and arrested them. We will produce them before the court tomorrow and demand their police custody,” Chandigarh DGP Tajender Singh Luthra told reporters.

Chandigarh stalking case accused Vikas Barala. Photo: Special Arrangement

Both interrogated at length, says DGP

Mr. Luthra said both were interrogated at length on Wednesday and the police collected vital information during the interrogation.

“They [accused] were thoroughly interrogated and we were able to collect vital information that will help us in the investigation,” he said, adding that at this point he would refrain to divulge minute details. "There are many thing for which we need the accused to reconstruct the scene to verify facts," he observed. 

Mr. Luthra refuted allegations of working under political pressure. “There's no political pressure on us and we are working independently and professionally,” he said.

To a question on the on the slapping of the abduction charge, he said pressing of new sections were based on many facts, including a statement of a witness and other evidences, besides legal opinion.

The police had summoned Vikas and Ashish for investigation at the city's Sector-26 police station in connection with the investigation of the ''stalking case'' by 11 a.m. on Wednesday. But both reached the police station in a white sport utility vehicle only at 2:30 pm.

The police had been facing flak for not invoking Sections 365 and 511 of the IPC to the previous FIR.