BJP leader held for circulating clip on Tewari’s family

Tewari alleged that in the video posted on social media it was claimed that his father late Prof VN Tewari was involved in anti-Sikh riots in Delhi and that petrol was supplied from his filling station to burn Sikhs.

Bharatiya Janata Party’s Rupnagar district vicepresident Naresh Chawla was arrested on Friday for allegedly posting a video clip on Congress’ Anandpur Sahib candidate Manish Tewari and his family on social media.

A case was registered on Thursday against unidentified persons at the Rupnagar city police station under Section 295-A and 500 of the Indian Penal Code on the complaint of Manish Tewari’s election agent Pawan Diwan. (HT Photo)

Chawla is a resident of Nangal. A case was registered on Thursday against unidentified persons at the Rupnagar city police station under Section 295-A (acts intended to outrage religious feelings or any class) and 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code on the complaint of Manish Tewari’s election agent Pawan Diwan.

Tewari alleged that in the video posted on social media it was claimed that his father late Prof VN Tewari was involved in anti-Sikh riots in Delhi and that petrol was supplied from his filling station to burn Sikhs. He said his father was killed six months before the riots and the family never owned a petrol pump.

Tewari said that he suspected his political opponents behind circulation of the video clip.

Rupnagar SSP Swapan Sharma said Chawla’s involvement in circulating the video on social media has been established.

Rupnagar district BJP president Jatinder Singh Athwal said Chawla had only shared the video clip inadvertently.