By Our Staff Reporter
Haridwar, 6 Feb: The bail plea of former MLA of Khanpur, Pranav Singh ‘Champion’, currently in judicial custody could not be heard today. Champion is under judicial custody for allegedly firing at the office of Khanpur MLA Umesh Kumar. Umesh Kumar, who was also seen brandishing his pistol on the same day and threatening his political rival, was granted bail on the same day he was held.
Champion also faces the allegation of attempt to murder under Section 109 of BNS. He as well as the Police have sought removal of Section 109 (attempt to murder) from the registered case against him. This plea also is currently pending. The hearing is now scheduled for tomorrow. It may be recalled that the bail plea was filed in the Haridwar CJM court along with the plea by Uttarakhand Police to remove Section 109 from the case, which was not heard. The matter was expected to be heard today but the judge did not take up the case. It is now expected that the court will hear Champion’s plea tomorrow.
Not only this, Pranav Singh Champion is also to be presented for remand in the court tomorrow and, hence, the experts feel that the bail plea can be expected to be heard during this time. The same court will also hear the police plea for the removal of the section of attempt to murder on Pranav Singh Champion. The lawyers representing Umesh Kumar have opposed this removal, arguing that the bullets were fired with criminal intent.
It may be recalled that, on 25 January, the current MLA of Khanpur, Umesh Kumar had allegedly reached Rangmahal in Landhaura to threaten Champion. In retaliation, Champion also reached the office of Khanpur MLA Umesh Kumar with his supporters on the evening of 26 January and allegedly opened fire outside the office of Kumar. Later, the police arrested Pranav Singh Champion from Dehradun. He was produced in court on 27 January which sent him to jail on 14 days’ judicial custody. The Gurjar community to which Champion belongs has alleged discrimination by the administration against Champion and has called for his immediate release.
