Chandigarh stalking: Vikas Barala, friend arrested; booked for attempt to abduction

"They will be produced in court tomorrow. We will seek police remand from the court. We have to confront them with various facts," Luthra said. "The arrests and new charges are based on many new facts like legal opinion, new pieces of evidence in form of CCTV footage, statement of witnesses and map of the route," he said.

He said when the police had summoned Vikas Barala, the accused in the case, his father Subhash Barala himself asked his son to visit the police station at Sector 26 here and cooperate with the police investigations.

Haryana BJP President Subhash Barala's son Vikas Barala and his friend Ashish Kumar were on Wednesday arrested again by the Chandigarh Police after they were booked under the non-bailable sections of attempt to abduct and attempt to commit offence for stalking an IAS officer's daughter.

Subhash Barala's son Vikas and another accused were re-arrested in the stalking case involving the 29-year-old daughter of a IAS officer, here on Wednesday after they were charged with the non-bailable offence of attempted abduction under section 365 of the IPC and section 511, which relates to an attempt to commit an offence punishable with life or other imprisonment.

The incident of stalking happened on the night of August 4-5. The Chandigarh Police came under widespread criticism for allegedly favouring the accused who stalked and intimidated Varnika Kundu, 29, daughter of Haryana Additional Chief Secretary V.S. Kundu.

"Following interrogation, new facts have emerged. We have decided to press two new charges. These are attempted abduction (sections 365 and 511). We have decided to arrest them," Chandigarh Director General of Police Tejinder Luthra told the media.

"Why should Subhash Barala resign, what wrong has he committed? A case has been registered under the sections just as the victim wanted. Subhash Barala's son and another person have been arrested. The victim says they have full faith in the police investigation," the outspoken health and sports minister said.