AAP MLA Mahendra Yadav arrested for protesting rape of minor

Aam Aadmi Party MLA Mahendra Yadav has been put in one-day custody by a Tis Hazari court on 29 January after he was arrested by Delhi Police for alleged assault against a government official. Yadav allegedly damaged public property and stalled the workings of public servants.

Yadav, a representative of the Vikaspuri assmbly seat, was arrested for obstructing traffic while protesting against the police for not filing an FIR in the rape of a 3-year-old girl.

Joint commissioner of police, Deependra Pathak, in a comment to Delhi Police told Hindustan Times, "Not only did they blocked the traffic, the protesters also damaged some public vehicles and manhandled with the police personnel on duty, preventing them from performing duties. An adult protester and a juvenile were apprehended from the protest spot while the entire protests were videographed by our policemen" said Pathak.

"A case under sections 147, 148 (rioting), 186 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of IPC and section 3 of the prevention of damage to public property act, 1984, was registered at the Nihal Vihar police station," he added.

Yadav is the sixth AAP MLA who has ever been arrested. Earlier, the party's popular faces like Somnath Bharti and ex law minister Jitender Singh had also been arrested at some point on different charges.

Reacting on the incident, AAP lashed out at the Narendra Modi government as Sanjay Singh said that Yadav was only protesting against a rape case. While AAP defended Yadav, Congress stated that the MLAs of AAP are not under the control of party.