AAP MLA arrested for molestation, Arvind Kejriwal attacks PM

Police detain AAP MLA Dinesh Mohaniya in New Delhi on Saturday

New Delhi: AAP MLA Dinesh Mohaniya was on Saturday arrested on charges of molestation and sexual harassment amid high drama when he was addressing a press conference, triggering an angry reaction from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of declaring an "emergency" in Delhi.

Police detain AAP MLA Dinesh Mohaniya in New Delhi on Saturday. Pic/PTI

Mohaniya, who is also vice chairman of Delhi Jal Board, was virtually dragged from his seat by a police official when he was talking to reporters at his office in Khanpur in South Delhi, at around 12.10 PM.

"Mohaniya has been arrested under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354 A (Sexual harassment), 354 B (Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe) and 354 C (Voyeurism), said Joint Commissioner of Police (South East) RP Upadhyay.

The MLA was booked on June 23 for allegedly misbehaving with a group of women, who approached him with a complaint regarding water crisis in their locality. On Saturday, a Delhi court rejected his bail plea.

Duty Magistrate Anjani Mahajan dismissed the application which claimed that his arrest was meant only to humiliate him. "After thoughtful consideration, I am rejecting the bail plea. The accused is sent to judicial custody till June 27," the magistrate said.