Embarrassment for BJP! Party leader held for assaulting BJP's woman councillor

Daman, Oct 21: A BJP leader, in-charge of its membership drive here, was today arrested for allegedly assaulting and intimidating a woman councillor of his own party.

"Navin Raman Patel was arrested for assaulting and intimidating a woman councillor of BJP, Simple Tandel, at a programme held by the party in a hotel in Nani Daman area today," Police Station Officer at Nani Daman area Sohil Jivani said.

The act of attack of the BJP leader went viral on various social networking sites as it was caught on CCTV camera.

Patel was booked under IPC sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 504 (intentional insult), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), Jivani added.

According to Tandel's complaint, Patel passed some objectionable comment when she reached the venue and later he went forward towards her and slapped her in front of other party workers.

Tandel, who was accompanied by BJP MP from Diu and Daman Lalu Patel's wife Taruna Patel, was later thrashed by Patel, Jivani said.

Tandel told reporters that Patel had assaulted her when she was going to attend the BJP programme, following which she had also slapped the BJP leader.

A judicial magistrate court here later granted bail to the BJP leader.

PTI