New Delhi: A politician in Uttar Pradesh, who was booked on Friday for allegedly assaulting a woman after a spat in her housing society, claimed he is a member of BJP's Kisan Morcha. While his photos with senior leaders of the party have emerged on social media, the party’s local unit has denied having any association with him, news agency PTI reported.
According to the report, the incident took place following a spat, when the woman objected to plantation of some trees by Shrikant Tyagi, who allegedly hurled expletives and also assaulted her, videos of which have surfaced on the social media.
"Shrikant Tyagi has been booked under Indian Penal Code Section 354 (assault or use of criminal force on any woman, intending to outrage or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby outrage her modesty)," PTI quoted Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Women Safety) Ankita Sharma as saying.
"The charges maybe added after due investigation into the case," the IPS officer said.
While Tyagi identifies himself as a national executive member of the BJP's Kisan Morcha and national co-cordinator of the Yuva Kisan Samiti of the ruling party, BJP's Noida unit chief Manoj Gupta said that Tyagi is not associated with the party.
"He had come to the party some four-five years ago with Swamy Prasad Maurya, who has now left the BJP. Tyagi was his disciple and not a member of the BJP,” Gupta said.
Gupta added that the party stands in support of the residents of the society and that they want action against the alleged accused.
However, when contacted, Tyagi said it was the woman who had instigated the brawl.
“She was drunk and started misbehaving with me and my family. After which I said a few things in rage. Her allegations that I have encroached society's common area is incorrect. I had paid extra money for the garden area when I bought the ground floor apartment,” Tyagi said.
Meanwhile, as the row escalated and BJP sought to distance itself from Tyagi, his pictures with senior party leaders JP Nadda and Swatantra Dev Singh have surfaced on social media.
His unverified Twitter account, which is locked for public, also described him as BJP worker.
According to police, a team was sent to the housing society but Tyagi did not open the doors of his house.
"He was threatening to unleash his pet dogs on the police officials, which was preventing his arrest. The police team was waiting outside his house," another official said.
Additional DCP on Friday had said Tyagi is absconding and police teams are searching for him.
Further legal proceedings in the case are underway, police added.