MLA arrested for assaulting policemen

LUCKNOW - An independent legislator was Friday arrested in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi district on charges of assaulting police personnel in order to secure the release of two of his supporters who were arrested for alleged extortion, police said.

Ajay Rai, who represents Kolasala seat in Varanasi district, some 300 km from Lucknow, was arrested after he along with his supporters mounted pressure on the police demanding the release of two of his supporters.

Rai and his supporters even scuffled with the police and held road blockades in the Chetganj area.

“We arrested the MLA when he tried to become more aggressive. His two supporters were arrested on charges of beating the owner of a hotel and extorting money from him,” police Inspector A.N. Mishra told reporters in Varanasi.

“After arresting the legislator, we presented him in a court that later sent him to 14 days judicial custody,” he added.

Rai has been booked under sections 506 (criminal intimidation), 504 (intent to provoke breach), 225 (obstruction/resistance to lawful apprehension of another person), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) and 353 (assault/criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty).