Fresh charge sheet against BJP MLA Suresh Rana

MUZAFFARNAGAR: A fresh charge sheet has been filed against controversial BJP legislator Suresh Rana and three other party activists for rioting during a protest against a gangrape in Shamli in June.

The charge sheet was filed in the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Kailash Kumar yesterday against Rana, MLA from Thana Bhawan constituency of Shamli district, and party activists Ghanshyam and Radhey Shyam for damaging shops and vehicles during the protest on June 16.

On June 16, a 21-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped, following which hundreds of people including Rana staged a protest and damaged shops and vehicles, demanding the arrest of the accused.

During the protest, 12 persons were injured. After the violence, police booked Rana and another BJP MLA Hukum Singh along with 250 activists under Section 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 392 (punishment for robbery), 436 (Mischief by fire or any explosive substance) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and Public Property Damage Act.

Police have yet not filed a case against Hukum Singh as investigation is on.

Rana, who is now on bail, was arrested in Lucknow on September 20 for allegedly fanning communal riots in Muzaffarnagar by making provocative speeches.

He was released on bail by a local court on Novmeber 14.