The sessions court of Delhi on Monday convicted Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Deoli, Prakash Jarwal, under IPC section 352(assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation), 354(Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and section 506(1) (criminal intimidation).
AAP MLA had allegedly forcefully entered victim’s house along with his other supporters and assaulted her along with her husband with an intent to outrage her modesty.
The victim had subsequently lodged an FIR at Sangam Vihar police station on July 14 last year, leading to MLA’s conviction.
The court will hear the case again, so as to decide the quantum of punishment for MLA, which by law can be of a maximum of two years.
MLA Jarwal has been in the accused of molestation earlier too. In June 2016, a woman had accused him of harassing her and touching inappropriately at Delhi Jal Board office of Greater Kailash. Though he was acquitted later. Jarwal is also accused of assaulting the chief secretary of Delhi at the CM residence along with fellow party leader Amanatullah Khan.
This is also not the first time that an AAP MLA has been convicted of criminal behavior.
On August 1 of this year, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate convicted another AAP MLA from Tughlakabad of IPC section 324(Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 341(wrongful restraint.) and 37(Co-operation by doing one of several acts constituting an offense.) for assaulting a youth.
AAP MLAs in past has also been booked for various criminal cases. Amanatullah Khan has a number of cases pending against him.
Recently, Delhi witnessed a bureaucratic breakdown after Delhi Chief Secretary alleged that CM Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia along with, two other party MLAs beat him at CM”s residence at midnight. The two other MLA’s were Amanatullah Khan and Prakash Jarwal.
