BJP MLA Suresh Rana remanded in judicial custody

Muzaffarnagar, Sept 21: BJP MLA Suresh Rana, arrested on charges of making a provocative speech to incite riots, was on Saturday remanded to 14 days judicial custody by a local court here which also rejected his interim bail plea.

An MLA from Thana Bhawan in Shamli district, Rana, who was arrested in Lucknow yesterday, was produced in the court of Additional Judicial Magistrate Sunder Lal this morning.

The court, while rejecting his interim bail application, fixed September 24 as the next date for hearing on permanent bail application. "I raised my voice against government that is why they arrested me. I won't be deterred by this arrest. I would get arrested thousand times for the safety and security of women," Rana told reporters soon after his bail application was rejected.

Under attack over alleged inaction, Uttar Pradesh Police yesterday took into custody Rana in Lucknow on charges of making provocative speech to incite riots, the first major politician to be arrested for Muzaffarnagar violence.

Rana was produced in the court of Additional Judicial Magistrate Sunder Lal.

Rana was arrested by police while he was on his way to Gomti Nagar from the party office last evening, immediately after the Uttar Pradesh Assembly was adjourned sine die.

Facing criticism over failure to arrest several MLAs despite warrants being issued against them by a court in Muzaffarnagar, IG (Law and Order) R K Vishwakarma had said the arrest was being "deliberately avoided" as the session of state Assembly was in progress.

"On the basis of the application moved by Muzaffarnagar police, Rana has been arrested by Lucknow police," Vishwakarma had said.

He said that a case has been lodged against Rana under sections 188 (knowingly disobeying orders to maintain public order), 153 A (promoting enmity between groups on the basis of religion) 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty) and 435 (damage to property) of IPC and criminal law amendment act, which is non-bailable.

Rana was among the 16 politicians and community leaders against whom a Muzaffarnagar court had on Wednesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants. The communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas claimed 47 lives and displaced over 40,000 people.

PTI