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New Delhi: Golam Nabi Azad, son of Janata Unnayan Party (JUP) chief and Bharatpur MLA Humayun Kabir, was arrested on Sunday for allegedly assaulting a police constable posted at the family residence.
A senior police officer said Azad, also known as Sohel, was taken into custody after constable Jumma Khan lodged a complaint at Shaktipur police station. The constable alleged that he was assaulted on Sunday morning when he applied for a few days' leave.
"Based on the complaint, the accused has been arrested for questioning. The matter is under investigation and necessary legal action will follow," the officer told PTI.
Police said the alleged assault took place at Kabir's ground-floor office under the Shaktipur police station area while the MLA was holding a meeting with party workers. According to the complaint, an argument broke out after the constable sought leave, during which he was allegedly slapped. Police claim Azad later joined the altercation and assaulted the constable, who then approached the police station to file a written complaint.
Following the complaint, police personnel reached Kabir's residence and took his son into custody. CCTV footage from the house and office has been seized and copied for investigation, according to reports.
Reacting to the arrest, Kabir, who was away on personal work at the time, alleged that police cordoned off his residence and claimed the action was politically motivated. "My son objected to the entry of a policeman into my house. This led to false allegations being levelled against him," Kabir told reporters in Berhampore.
The MLA, who floated the JUP after being suspended from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), said his son was arrested "illegally under false charges" and demanded his immediate release. He also announced plans to gherao the Murshidabad superintendent of police's office on January 1 in protest, seeking explanations from senior police and administrative officials.
TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty said the matter had no political angle. "Raising a hand on a police officer is a cognisable offence. Police have acted as per the law. The party has nothing to do with it," he said.
