By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 3 May: A day after the video of Cabinet Minister Prem Chand Aggarwal, his gunner and PRO beating up a young man on Haridwar Road in Rishikesh went viral, yesterday, the Police have registered a cross FIR against the Cabinet Minister, his PRO Kaushal Bijalwan and gunner Vinod Rana at Rishikesh Kotwali. This cross FIR has been registered on the complaint of Surendra Singh Negi, who was beaten up by the minister and his subordinates yesterday.
It may be recalled that the first FIR in the case was filed by the minister’s gunner, Vinod Rana, in which Surendra Singh Negi and his friend Dhirendra Singh Prajapati have been accused of assaulting the minister and robbing him.
The first FIR against Negi and Prajapati was filed yesterday by the Police. Initially, the Police appeared to be far more sympathetic towards the minister and it was being claimed that Surendra Singh Negi and Dhirendra Singh Prajapati had been arrested on the orders of the minister. The video in which the minister and his associates were seen beating up Negi became viral yesterday and the issue expectedly attracted severe criticism from Congress leaders and the general public.
This led to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who was in Delhi yesterday, taking cognisance of the case. He not only summoned Aggarwal but also called up Director General of Police Ashok Kumar to ensure that the investigation in the case is totally fair and no innocent person is harassed needlessly.
The CM’s order probably changed the course of what could have been a totally one-sided affair. Today, the Police registered a cross FIR on the complaint of Negi and Prajapati against the minister and his cohorts under Sections 147, 323 and 504 of the IPC. After this FIR was registered, word spread in the social media that the minister had not been named in the FIR, but only the gunner Vinod Rana and the PRO Kaushal Bijalwan. Questions were being raised in this regard. However, DIG Daleep Singh Kunwar confirmed that, on the compliant of Surendra Singh Negi and Dhirendra Singh Prajapati, the FIR has been registered against all three. Kunwar claimed that the FIR had been filed under sections of rioting and abuse. He further stated that Negi’s FIR has been filed against a total of five persons. Kunwar stated that, now that cross FIRs have been registered in the case, the Police will investigate thoroughly and take effective action on the basis of available evidence. He disclosed that the Rishikesh Kotwali SHO has been made the investigating officer in this case. Clear instructions have been given to the IO that the investigation should be conducted impartially on the basis of available evidence and facts. He added that it is wrong to spread any kind of rumour in this respect, as the names of everyone have been clearly recorded in the FIR and the law is equal for all. Fair action would follow.
In response to questions raised by the media persons, Kunwar admitted that any kind of assault by the gunner provided as a security official on the youth would be wrong and, if the investigation reveals that he was involved in the assault, departmental action would be taken against him as well.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders today burned an effigy of Cabinet Minister Prem Chand Aggarwal and raised slogans against him. Congress spokesperson Garima Dasauni accused Aggarwal of highhandedness and demanded action against him and also sought his resignation. Former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Trivendra Singh Rawat also advised the minister to exercise restraint in his behaviour, as he holds a very responsible post.
It may be recalled that the victim Surendra Singh Negi is a resident of Shivaji Nagar area of Rishikesh Municipal Corporation. He has been active in social and public interest movements for a long time. He has also contested the election for municipal councillor from Shivajinagar area as an independent candidate. He runs a grocery shop near his house.
