New Delhi: Just when questions are being raised on the Manohar Lal Khattar government for not charging the accused under relevant laws in the alleged stalking case against Haryana state BJP chief Subhash Barala's son Vikas Barala and his friend Ashish Kumar, BJP MP from Chandigarh Kirron Kher told News18.com that "politics will not be played with the case and that children often do things for which parents have to pay a price."
The 29-year-old woman, who happens to be the daughter of a senior IAS officer in Haryana, was followed by Barala's son and his friend last Friday. Barala's SUV pulled up close to her car several times in a bid to block her way from other routes.
The two men were arrested by the Chandigarh police on Friday and were charged under IPC and Motor Vehicles Act. However, they were released later on bail.
On allegations that the case was being watered down, as influential people are involved, the BJP MP from Chandigarh refuted such claims and stated that Chandigarh police was only going by law.
"The Chandigarh police is an extremely capable police force. They are not going to let anyone play politics with it... I am glad the girl is safe and nothing bad happened to her. I am sure the police will get to the bottom of the case," said Kher.
She also said that it was Congress that was bringing her into the picture.
"Manish Tiwari keeps dragging me into everything. I am not even in Chandigarh. I am just the Member of Parliament from there, not the DIG or the governor. Often children go and do things and the parents have to pay for it. Mr Luthra who is investigating the case is a fine gentleman and he will ensure justice is done. Cops are talking to the girl as well. There is no attempt to water down the case," said the BJP MP.
Meanwhile, DSP Satish Kumar of Chandigarh police told News18.com that the accused were charged with the new section under IPC which makes stalking a criminal offence but makes it bailable for the first offence.
"We have registered a case against both of them under sections 354D of the Indian Penal Code and 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act (drunk driving) at the Sector 26 police station," said deputy superintendent of police (DSP east) Satish Kumar.
Kumar also said that they were charged with wrongful restraint too after the victim gave her statement. However they were later released on bail.
With the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 2013, post the Nirbhaya case, a person can be booked for stalking under section 354D of the Indian Penal Code if he follows a woman and contacts or attempts to contact her despite the woman showing disinterest in his gestures. Stalking has been defined to include web and phone based stalking too. However, the section can be invoked only by women and not men.
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