The Delhi Police on Saturday said they were forced to arrest Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Dinesh Mohaniya, as he did not respond to the notices served to him based on a complaint filed by a group of women who claim they were harassed by him.
“We had served a notice to Dinesh Mohaniya based on a complaint that was filed by a group of women, who alleged that he had abused them when they approached him with a complaint on a water crisis in their locality and asked him to join the investigation. Despite that, he didn’t respond to the notice,” R.P. Upadhyay, Joint Commissioner Of Police (South East) said.
Upadhyay said police is bound to arrest a defaulter if it does not cooperate with them.
“When you are not cooperating with the police, there are not many options left with the police… that is why he has been arrested,” he said.
“Since the allegation against Mohaniya is grave and he has been arrested under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354 A (sexual harassment), 354 B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe) and 354 C (voyeurism), he would be produced in the court,” he added.
The Delhi’s South East JCP further said the police registered an FIR on the basis of the complaint it received.
Mohaniya, the Sangam Vihar legislator, was picked up by a police team while he was addressing a press conference at his office in Khanpur in South Delhi.
Mohaniya was on Saturday arrested by the Delhi Police while addressing a press conference at his office in Khanpur in South Delhi.
Mohaniya, who is also the vice-chairman of Delhi Jal Board, was booked on June 23 after locals of Sangam Vihar alleged that the MLA and his supporters roughed them up and misbehaved with women in his office when they went to complain about irregular water supply.
A case was registered under Section 506 (criminal intimidation), Section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and Section 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code at the Neb Sarai Police Station.
However, the police have also added Sections 354 and 354 (b).
“We have added 354 and 354b sections of the IPC as well,” said Jimmy Chiram, ACP, Delhi Police.
However, the MLA had rubbished the allegations, saying it was an attempt to defame his reputation as the water mafia is frustrated because of the Delhi Government’s crackdown.
Another case has been registered against Mohaniya for allegedly slapping a 60-year-old man in Tughlaquabad area on Friday.
A case has been registered against Mohaniya under Sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 341(punishment for wrongful restraint) and 34 (act done by several persons) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the Govindpuri Police Station. (Agencies)
