A court in Chandigarh on Sunday remanded Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala's son Gaganjit Singh Barnala, arrested for allegedly raping his maid, to police custody for one day.
Pronouncing the order in a jam-packed court, Judicial Magistrate Atul Marya asked the prosecution to produce Gaganjit, who is an MLA of the Shiromani Akali Dal, in the court tomorrow at 10.00 am.
As Ganganjit entered the court premises he was greeted by several of his supporters, who shouted slogans.
The prosecution sought Gaganjit's remand for three days, claiming that the woman was 'brutally raped' by him.
However, the defence opposed the remand, asking "what did the prosecution want to recover" from the accused.
"They (prosecution) say they want to know the reality. It appears some pressure is working behind them," the defence counsel said.
"There is nothing true in this case. The lady is married and calls the man (Gaganjit) Kaka," the defence contended.
The judge asked the prosecution to show compliance of section 50 (intimation of arrest) of CrPC and the Daily Diary Report.
Earlier, medical examination was conducted on Gaganjit by a team of doctors at the Government hospital twice. Top police sources said that Gaganjit's blood samples had been preserved for DNA tests.
Gaganjit is the MLA of Dhuri constituency in Punjab.
As Gaganjit was taken to police custody, he told reporters that he was cooperating in the investigations.
"Truth alone will win. Everything will come before you (media)," a confident-looking Gaganjit said.
SAD activists and former MLA Baldev Singh Mann questioned why police showed haste in registering an FIR against Gaganjit Singh.
"He is innocent. How can one touch another female when his wife is also in the house," Mann said.
With the Assembly elections round the corner in the state, political observers think that the Akali Dal MLA's arrest is a setback for his party.
However, party insiders claim that Gaganjit does not enjoy a good rapport with SAD chief Parkash Singh Badal.
Gaganjit is the MLA of Dhuri constituency in Punjab.
As Gaganjit was taken to police custody, he told reporters that he was cooperating in the investigations.
"Truth alone will win. Everything will come before you (media)," a confident-looking Gaganjit said.
SAD activists and former MLA Baldev Singh Mann questioned why police showed haste in registering an FIR against Gaganjit Singh.
"He is innocent. How can one touch another female when his wife is also in the house," Mann said.
With the Assembly elections round the corner in the state, political observers think that the Akali Dal MLA's arrest is a setback for his party.
However, party insiders claim that Gaganjit does not enjoy a good rapport with SAD chief Parkash Singh Badal.
"The blood samples of Gaganjit Singh has been sent to Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) for DNA testing," DSP (central) SS Randhawa said in Chandigarh.
He said the director of the CFSL had been requested to give report of the blood samples analysis early.
"The report of DNA test is expected soon," he said, adding the case had been transferred to the crime branch of police.