#Shaktiman row: Ganesh Joshi sent to 14-day judicial custody

BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi, who has been accused of assaulting police horse Shaktimaan, was on Friday sent to judicial custody for 14 days.

Joshi, who was arrested this morning by the Uttarakhand Police, was produced before the ACJM Court in Dhakrani at around 12:15 p.m.

Meanwhile, the ruling Congress in Uttarakhand and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) exchanged verbal volleys over the Mussoorie MLA's arrest.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Friday asserted that there was no 'political conspiracy' behind the arrest of Ganesh Joshi.

"The action has been taken by the law enforcing agencies and I have no knowledge of it. The incident has not caused any harm to the government's image as the people have faith in us and trust us. There is absolutely no political conspiracy behind the arrest made in the case," Rawat told the media here.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand BJP president Ajay Bhatt alleged that Joshi was not arrested and alleged it seems to be a case of kidnapping as those who took him away were not in uniforms.

"We will meet the honourable Governor.We will give a befitting reply to the hooliganism taking place in the state under the leadership of Harish Rawat. We believe in democracy and we will do everything in a constitutional manner. But Harish Rawat, the Chief Minister, stands exposed today.They were in civil dress; we don't know whether they were policemen or goons. Our MLA has been kidnapped," Bhatt told ANI here.

Shaktiman's left hind leg was amputated by veterinary doctors yesterday after it suffered multiple fractures during a BJP protest earlier this week. The horse was allegedly beaten with sticks by Joshi and his associates.

An initial assessment by doctors raised hopes that Shaktiman would not lose its leg. However, the worst was confirmed Thursday as it had to be amputated to stop gangrene from spreading to other parts of its body.

(ANI)