By Arun Pratap Singh
Haridwar 7 Feb: In a significant development, the bail plea of former MLA of Khanpur (District Haridwar) Kunwar Pranav Singh ‘Champion’ has been rejected by the Court which heard his plea two days after the bail application was moved. Not only this, in a major setback to Champion, the Uttarakhand Police’s plea of removal of Section 109 of BNS (Attempt to Murder) from the charges against him was also rejected by the court.
Champion is presently lodged in the district prison here for his alleged involvement in an incident of firing outside the office of the current Khanpur MLA Umesh Kumar in Laksar. The court summarily dismissed the police application to remove Section 109 of BNS from the charges against him.
In today’s hearing, Champion and other accused individuals appeared before the court via an online session. The court deliberated on both Champion’s bail application and the police request to drop the attempt to murder charges against Champion, claiming that the charges are serious. After hearing arguments from all parties, the court decided to deny both requests, thereby maintaining the current charges against Champion.
It now appears that Champion will move a higher court against the rejection of his bail plea. Sources claim that he may file a fresh bail plea in the higher court on Monday.
It may be recalled that, though the feud between Champion and the current MLA Umesh Kumar is a long standing one, beginning in 2022 at the time of the assembly elections in which Umesh Kumar was pitted against Champion’s wife Devyani who had contested on the BJP ticket, it has recently snowballed after 25 January. The feud which saw both abusing each other on Facebook, took a violent turn when Umesh Kumar with his supporters reached the Landhaura located palace of Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion, called Rangmahal, and allegedly threatened the family. In retaliation, Champion, along with his supporters reached the office of Umesh Kumar in Laksar on the evening of 26 January and opened fire outside the office. Later, Umesh Kumar was also seen brandishing his pistol and threatening the supporters of Champion. Reports indicate that the group assaulted staff members and discharged firearms during the altercation. A video capturing the event also surfaced online, leading to widespread attention and Champion’s subsequent arrest in Dehradun later that day. While both were arrested, Umesh Kumar was granted bail, but Champion was sent to prison on 14-day judicial custody by different courts. The case stems from an incident on January 26, 2025, when Champion, accompanied by his supporters, allegedly attacked the office of MLA Umesh Kumar in Roorkee.
Champion has remained in Haridwar jail since then, while sources claim that Umesh Kumar is currently in UAE on a personal tour.
