Accused BJP MLA cries foul, says 'was nowhere near' when horse got injured

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ganesh Joshi, who has been booked for beating a police horse, on Tuesday cried foul and said that he was nowhere near the animal when it got injured.

The MLA from Mussorie told ANI that it was an effort to spread misinformation and malign his reputation.

"This is an effort to spread misinformation and malign me. When the horse fell or when it was injured, I was nowhere near the horse. I even declared that I would reimburse all the medical expenses for the horse," he said.

"Since I am popular among my voters, it is all but a conspiracy to defame me," he added.

The BJP MLA alleged that it was an attempt by the state government to divert the entire issue.

The Dehradun Police had yesterday registered a case against Joshi for beating a police horse, reportedly breaking one of its legs, during a protest against Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Monday for "misuse" of funds.

The BJP MLA allegedly attacked a police horse last evening deployed to disperse the protesters during a protest against Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat.

The protest took a violent turn when, in a bid to dismount the rider, the protesters charged at the horse with sticks and broke the horse's leg.

Joshi was allegedly seen in the video attacking the horse and other agitators supporting him in the effort.

The injured horse was then carried to a vet hospital in a truck.