Tajinder Bagga Arrest: Delhi Police Take BJP Leader's Custody Amid High Political Drama

FIR against Bagga and an unidentified person was registered on April 1 following the BJP leader's remarks criticising Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal over his statement on 'The Kashmir Files' film.

New Delhi: Delhi Police on Friday took the custody of BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga in Harayana's Kurukshetra and left for the national capital following his dramatic arrest by Punjab Police. Earlier, it had registered a kidnapping case over the matter while Punjab Police claimed to have followed due process of law in arresting the Delhi BJP spokesperson from his home in Janakpuri, pointing out that Bagga had ignored five notices served to join its probe on a case filed against him. 

As per news agency PTI, the vehicle bringing Tajinder Bagga to Punjab was stopped in Kurukshetra as a Haryana Police official said that they received information of Bagga having been "forcibly" picked up from his residence.

A Delhi Police team reached Kurukshetra, took Bagga's custody, and left for the national capital, PTI reported a Kurukshetra police official as informing.

Punjab Police had booked Delhi BJP spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga on the charges of making provocative statements, promoting enmity, and criminal intimidation.

The case was registered on a complaint by AAP leader Sunny Ahluwalia, a resident of Mohali, following the BJP leader's remarks criticising Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal over his statement on 'The Kashmir Files' film. 

The Punjab police vehicles bringing Bagga from Delhi to Mohali were stopped at the Karnal-Kurukshetra highway. The convoy was then taken to Thanesar Police station in Kurukshetra's Pipli.

A Delhi Police team also reached the police station after a kidnapping case was registered over the matter.

Haryana Police Stopping Convoy "Tantamounts To Illegal Detention": SSP

SSP SAS Nagar (Punjab) wrote to SSP Kurukshetra (Haryana) and said that the Haryana police stopping the convoy "tantamounts to illegal detention and interference in the administration of criminal justice system."

"It has come to notice of the undersigned that the police party has been stopped by Haryana Police on Karnal-Kurkshetra highway. This tantamounts to illegal detention and interference in administration of criminal justice system," the letter read.

"It is submitted that the police party along with arrested accused may be released so that he may be produced before the court of Hon'ble Sh. Ravitesh Inderjeet Singh, JMIC, Mohali (S.A.S Nagar) well within time as per law," it mentioned.

Punjab Police Defend Arrest, Delhi BJP President Criticises Action

The FIR against Bagga and an unidentified person was registered on April 1 at Punjab State Cyber Crime Police Station in Mohali.

"The accused was served five notices to come and join investigation. The Notices were duly served upon. Inspite of that the accused deliberately did not join probe. Today morning following due process of law, Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga arrested from his home in Delhi," news agency ANI reported Punjab Police as stating.

Delhi Police said it did not receive any information about Bagga's detention and it will take necessary action on complaints by the Delhi BJP leader's family.

In his response to the arrest, Delhi BJP President Adesh Gupta said that Tajinder Bagga was "illegally detained" by the Punjab Police. "They didn't allow him to even wear his turban. Complaint filed over manhandling of Tajindar Bagga by his father. Kejriwal's Hitler-like act will cost him. Punjab Police acting on directions of Kejriwal," he alleged.

FIR Against Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga 

The case against Tajinder Bagga was registered on a complaint by AAP leader Sunny Ahluwalia, a resident of Mohali, following the BJP leader's remarks criticising Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal over his statement on 'The Kashmir Files' film.

The FIR against Bagga was registered on April 1 at Punjab State Cyber Crime Police Station in Mohali under relevant IPC sections, including 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place, etc.), 505 (whoever makes, publishes or circulates any statement, rumour or report), and 506 (criminal intimidation), PTI reported.

According to the Punjab Police statement, the FIR was based on a complaint about "instigation/incitement/criminal intimidation to cause violence, use of force, imminent hurt in a predesigned and orchestrated manner by making/publishing provocative, false and communal inflammatory statements through his interview given to the media and through his Twitter posts".

Tajinder Bagga Alleged Punjab Police Reached His Home Without Informing Local Police

Notably, last month, Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga claimed that Punjab Police reached his home to arrest him without informing the local police. "Punjab Police Car number PB65AK1594 reached my home to arrest me without informing local police. Now they are tracking my friends addresses and going to their homes. No information of FIR, Police station, Sections against me to me till now. CC @DelhiPolice @DCPWestDelhi," Bagga stated in a tweet.

In another tweet, Bagga said that he will continue to oppose Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal if he terms the "genocide of Kashmiri Pandits a lie."

"No matter if one or 100 FIRs are registered against me but if Kejriwal calls the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits a lie, then I will protest, if he laughs at the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits, then I will protest no matter what consequences I have to face for it," he said.