AAP legislator in Delhi accused of molestation

In a fresh embarrassment for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), yet another of its legislators has been booked for misbehaving with a woman here.

However, Prakash Jarwal, who represents Deoli constituency in Delhi assembly, on Friday denied the charge saying it is a "dirty political game".

"A case has been registered for molestation, eve-teasing and intimidation," Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajeev Ranjan told IANS.

The case was registered against the AAP MLA on Thursday after a woman submitted her complaint to the Delhi Police.

The alleged incident took place on July 2, when the victim, a resident of Sangam Vihar, had gone to the Delhi Jal Board office in Greater Kailash area to make a complaint, Ranjan said.

Jarwal and his supporters allegedly molested the victim there.

Ranjan said the police is currently investigating into the matter.

Asked whether the victim first approached Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and the Police Commissioner to register a first information report (FIR), Ranjan said: "The victim had sent the complaint to all the people on the same day."

Reacting to the news of the fresh case against AAP MLA for misbehaving with a woman, the BJP alleged that the party has no respect for women.

"It has come to our knowledge that a woman has registered an FIR against AAP MLA Jarwal. It is now established that in (Arvind) Kejriwal's party there is no space or respect for women," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay said.

"About a month ago, a similar incident was reported from Narela where an Aam Aadmi Party office-bearer stands accused," Upadhyay said.

Meanwhile, Jarwal posted on Twitter: "Molestation of women against me is baseless. It's all about dirty political game."

Jarwal had been arrested in May 2014 for assaulting a junior engineer of the Delhi Jal Board at Sangam Vihar.

It's the second such case against an AAP legislator in a fortnight. Earlier, a sexual harassment case was registered against Dinesh Mohaniya, who represents Sangam Vihar in Delhi assembly.

--IANS

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