UP legislator arrested in Goa dance bar raid claims innocence

Suspended Samajwadi Party legislator Mahendra Singh who was arrested by Goa police after a dance bar raid here, today claimed innocence and alleged that he was framed in the case for no fault of his.
On August 27, the Uttar Pradesh MLA was arrested with five others from a local bar at Campal and six girls were rescued from there.
The suspended legislator said he was sleeping in the hotel room adjacent to the bar where the raid took place.
"I don't know why I was arrested when I was in the deep sleep when the raid happened. I was in the adjacent room," he told PTI from UP.

The 55-year-old leader was remanded in seven-day police custody before he got bail from a local court in the case.
Singh said he was being framed in the case and fell victim to the politics between Congress and BJP in Goa.

"The complaint about dance bar was made by a Goa Congress legislator and the raid happened in the constituency of the BJP Chief Minister (Manohar Parrikar)," he alleged.
The case is being investigated by Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mahesh Gaonkar.
The legislator said he was innocent and had visited the place after an invitation by one of his friends who was celebrating his birthday party there.

Singh also rubbished reports that he was living with a girl in a hotel at Calangute.