AAP MLA Akhilesh Tripathi arrested in rioting case

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Akhilesh Tripathi was today held in a 2013 case of rioting and criminal intimidation and sent to judicial custody for two days by a Delhi court, the fifth lawmaker of the ruling party to be arrested.

In pursuance of non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued against Tripathi by the court earlier for his non-appearance, he was brought by police to the court which sent him to jail till November 28.

Metropolitan Magistrate Kapil Kumar ordered that the MLA, an accused in the 2013 rioting case, be taken into custody while noting his conduct of not complying with court's order directing him to appear.

The court had earlier issued NBW against the Model Town MLA for his non-appearance before it in the case.

In 2013, an FIR was registered against Tripathi, Rahul Kumar, Vikas Mandal, Inder Vikram Singh and Kanhaiya Kumar Jha for alleged offences under Sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 323 (causing simple hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (north west) Vijay Singh said the MLA "has been arrested and taken into custody in pursuance to court order."

Tripathi is the fifth MLA of the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party to be arrested.

Surinder Singh, AAP MLA from Delhi Cantonment, was arrested in August for allegedly assaulting an NDMC employee and was later granted bail.

Former Delhi Law Minister Jitendra Singh Tomar was held in a fake educational degree case in June and Kondli legislator Manoj Kumar was apprehended in July in connection with a land fraud case.

AAP MLA Somnath Bharti was arrested in September after he surrendered in connection with the attempt to murder and domestic violence case filed by his wife.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had early this month complained against Delhi Police to Union Home Ministry accusing it of trying to "hound" ruling AAP MLAs by reopening old cases and creating new ones against them.

According to police, a case was lodged against Tripathi and four other accused on March 9, 2013 following allegations that on March 8, 2013, they along with other AAP supporters had gathered at G T Karnal Road near Lal Bagh Azadpur and entered into a quarrel with complainant Bittu Jha.

The FIR registered at Adarsh Nagar Police Station in north west Delhi said that during the altercation, the accused allegedly assaulted the complainant in which he sustained injuries.