Chandigarh stalking case: Six out of nine CCTV footage go missing; they wanted to kidnap me, says Varnika

Vikas Barala and his friend Ashish Kumar were arrested and released on bail later for allegedly stalking the girl in Chandigarh.

New Delhi: Sources have informed ABP News that footage from six out of nine CCTV cameras installed at the stretch where DJ Varnika Kundu was stalked by Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala’s son Vikas and his friend have gone missing. This could pose a serious hindrance to the police investigation that’s currently underway. The two men were arrested by the Chandigarh police on Friday and were charged under IPC and Motor Vehicles Act. However, they were released later on bail. It’s been over two days since the matter came to light and shockingly the police haven’t yet scanned the footage from the three CCTV cameras yet. Since it is a high-profile case, the case is appearing to be watered down. BJP leaders, however, say there is no pressure on the police in taking swift and appropriate action. Varnika reportedly told a daily that the two men had attempted to kidnap her, tried to open her car but the charge didn’t have a mention in the FIR because of which it was easy for them to secure bail. If the CCTV footage establishes the victim’s (an IAS officer’s daughter) claim then Vikas and Ashish could be booked under the attempt to kidnap Sections (365 and 511) of the IPC.  Earlier, they were booked under section 354 D (stalking) of IPC and 185 of the Motor Vehicle Act (driving by a drunken person or by a person under the influence of drugs), the police said. Varnika had recorded her statement before the area magistrate under section 164 of the CrPC, the police added another Section 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint) in the FIR.