Delhi Police arrest AAP MLA Rituraj Govind in assault case

Delhi Police arrested Aam Aadmi Party MLA Rituraj Govind on charges of assault on Sunday, ANI reported, adding to a growing list of legislators from the outfit mired in legal trouble.

Delhi Police arrested Aam Aadmi Party MLA Rituraj Govind on charges of assault on Sunday, ANI reported, adding to a growing list of legislators from the outfit mired in legal trouble.

AAP MLA Rituraj Govind was arrested by Delhi Police on charges of assault. (Photo: Rituraj Govind’s Twitter account)

Govind, the MLA from west Delhi’s Kirari, was accused of assault during the ongoing Chhath Puja celebrations, agencies added, a day after the legislator was embroiled in reported scuffles over trying to build a ghat in the area.

Since the AAP stormed to power last year, at least 12 other party MLAs have been arrested and 15 booked by Delhi Police on various charges. The stream of legal action has triggered allegations – especially from Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal – that the Centre was trying to impede the city government’s work by arresting legislators. Delhi Police reports to the Union home ministry.

Read:AAP’s legal wrangles: 12 MLAs arrested, 15 booked since it came to power

His arrest came a day after he was picked up by police while trying to build a ghat on a heritage site along the Yamuna bank for Chhath Puja, where devotees offer prayers to the Sun and take dips in river or pond water.

Reports said there was stone pelting in the area and villagers objected to the ghat building. Police told PTI that prohibitory orders had been imposed in the area, which the MLA had allegedly violated.