AAP MLA Mahendra Yadav arrested for allegedly leading violent protest, sent to police custody

AAP's Vikaspuri MLA Mahinder Yadav was held on Friday under various charges including rioting and assaulting public servant during a protest seeking action against an alleged sexual offender, the sixth lawmaker from the ruling party in Delhi to be arrested. Police claimed Yadav led a violent protest last evening in Nihal Vihar area in West Delhi following sexual assault on a three-year-old girl and the mob even attacked public vehicles and tried to set a vehicle on fire. Yadav has been sent to one day police custody by the Delhi Court.

The protesters demanded immediate arrest of the 38-year-old accused alleging that police was not pursuing the case promptly though Joint Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Dependra Pathak on Friday claimed that the alleged culprit was arrested much before the protest. 

Yadav is the sixth AAP legislator to be arrested. Earlier MLAs Akhilesh Tripathi, Somnath Bharti, Commando Surinder Singh, Manoj Kumar and former law minister Jitender Singh Tomar were arrested on various charges. "A case was registered last night and the MLA was arrested around 12 noon today under charges of rioting, arson, assault on public servant, wrongful restraint and damage to public property," Pathak said.

He claimed the protesters at Nihal Vihar area even manhandled a police team which had tried to pacify the agitators. "While the accused was arrested by evening, much before the crowd gathered there, somebody floated a rumour that the police has refused to arrest him, leading to the agitation," said Pathak. While Yadav has been arrested, several others have been detained at the police station, he said.

Reacting to Yadav's arrest, AAP's Delhi Convener Dilip Pandey tweeted, "Delhi Police busy again arresting AAP MLA instead of ensuring Delhi women safety despite multiple warnings from courts." "MLA Mahendra Yadav arrested, for what? He was there where public was protesting against rape of a girl child? Is it wrong to ask for justice?" he said.

The AAP leader also took a dig at the Centre saying it was not providing funds to Delhi Police to instal CCTV cameras across the city. "Finance Ministry has no fund for security camera. Delhi still a rape capital. Court slammed (it) multiple times, but who cares. DP (Delhi Police) busy hunting AAP MLAs," he tweeted.