New Delhi: Politician Shrikant Tyagi, who was arrested in August for assaulting a woman in a Noida society, was released on bail Thursday, a senior police officer said.


He was lodged in the Greater Noida's Luksar jail since August 9 and was granted bail by the Allahabad High Court two days ago.






He received a grand welcome upon his release as videos that surfaced on social media showed him being garlanded and showered with flower petals.






"I will meet my supporters and talk to them before taking any big step. People have stood by me and my family, I will express my gratitude to them. Allahabad High Court has granted me bail and the decision of the court is above all," news agency ANI quoted Shrikant Tyagi as saying.


Tyagi had flexed political connections and claimed association with the ruling BJP when he was caught on camera assaulting a woman, a resident of his Grand Omaxe society in Noida's Sector 93B, after he was challenged by her.


"He was released this (Thursday) evening after all legal formalities," Jail Superintendent Arun Pratap Singh told news agency PTI.  


A section of social media users objected to the release.


"Spare a thought though for the woman in that Noida society who dared to stand up to him and complain, and who will now see him strut around in the same colony," journalist Prem Panicker wrote.






Other comments also feature similar displeasure or sarcastic comments over the development.










Tyagi's family thanked the Tyagi Community for its support during their ordeal.


Protests In Support Of Tyagi


The Tyagi community members had held panchayats to mobilise support for the Noida politician and staged a protest outside the society after his arrest in August, demanding his release and revocation of the Gangsters Act in the case, PTI reported.


"We are very happy and have got sweets at home for his welcome. We will be celebrating Diwali now with full fervour," his wife Anu Tyagi said, as quoted by PTI.


"We are very happy and his release will certainly reduce the anguish within the community. The government should have got this matter investigated with a little more caution and avoided the charges which were not applicable in the case," Dharmendra Yadav, Ghaziabad unit chief of the Tyagi community told PTI. 


Tyagi was granted bail in the Gangsters Act case by the Allahabad Court on Monday. He was earlier granted bail in other charges of assault and forgery by the court.


Justice Surendra Singh granted him bail in the Gangsters Act case after his counsel argued that he was "falsely implicated" in the case "due to police rivalry".


"Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature of allegations, and the gravity of the offence, but without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, this court is of the opinion that the applicant is entitled to bail," Justice Singh had noted.


In the viral video, Tyagi was heard hurling expletives at the woman, who objected to his installing plants in the common area.  


Notably, the BJP had denied links with Tyagi, who had remained at large for four days before being arrested and booked under the Gangsters Act, among other charges.


(With Agency Inputs)