BJP MLA Kantilal Amrutiya has been caught on camera allegedly beating a youth, who was apparently inebriated, with a stick.
However, police said the youth was flashing a sword in drunken state when the MLA called up the police.
The video - taken by a by-stander - purportedly showing Amrutiya, an MLA from Morbi seat, and his bodyguard beating the youth with a stick, is circulating on social networking sites and mobile messenger WhatsApp.
Police claimed the youth, identified as Jagdish Lokhil, was wielding a sword in a drunken state near Uma township of Morbi when the MLA was also present there yesterday afternoon.
"Amrutiya called the police, we went there and arrested the youth under charges of prohibition and Arms Act," an officer at B-Division police station said.
Responding to allegations of taking law in his own hands by beating the youth, Amrutiya said he has not done anything wrong, as the drunk man was carrying a sword and there was no one around to help the citizens, including women.
"That man was wielding a sword and threatening people. He was also threatening women. To overpower that person, I took a stick and did what was necessary. Otherwise, how are you supposed to control a man with sword, with bare hands? I did nothing wrong," the MLA said.
