An advocate today claimed that AAP MLA Sandeep Kumar, arrested on rape charges, was beaten up in prison, but the sacked minister's wife denied the allegation saying it was a "political conspiracy" as the lawyer had not been appointed by him.
Hours after Special Judge Poonam Chaudhry issued notice to jail superintendent on the plea of lawyer A P Singh, Kumar's wife Ritu and his advocate Pradeep Rana rejected the allegations at a press conference. Kumar is in judicial custody in Tihar Jail till September 23.
The court asked the jail superintendent to respond by September 20 to Singh's plea which sought direction to install CCTV cameras in jail and videograph the appearance of the MLA before the court, alleging there was threat to his life.
While the petition did not mention anything about the assault, Singh orally said he had met the legislator in jail and was told that he was beaten up and tortured there.
Speaking at a press conference in the evening, the legislator's wife Ritu said she had met her husband in jail this morning and the allegation that he was assaulted was wrong and claimed that there was a "political conspiracy" behind it.
She also said that neither she, nor Kumar had appointed Singh as his lawyer.
Advocate Rana, who accompanied Ritu, said the application by the other lawyer had been filed in the court without a 'vakalatnama' and when Kumar's wife met him in jail, the MLA had confirmed that he had not signed any other 'vakalatnama' and that he was fine and there was no assault on him.
"Pass an order for separate jail van, install CCTV cameras in jail and videography at the time of appearance before the court and safety, security in jail from threat to life on behalf of applicant Sandeep Kumar, in the interest of justice for fair, speedy and impartial trial...," the plea filed by Singh said.
Kumar was arrested on September 3 after a woman had approached Sultanpuri police station in North Delhi complaining of sexual harassment against the former Social Welfare and Women and Child Development minister, following which a case was filed. The woman had figured in an objectionable video with him.
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Kumar has been booked under sections 376 (rape), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison with intent to commit an offence) of IPC, under section 67A (punishment for publishing or transmitting of material containing sexually explicit act) of IT Act and Section 7 (public servant taking gratification for an official act) of Prevention of Corruption Act.
In her complaint, the woman has alleged that about 11 months ago, she was raped by Kumar when she had gone to his office in Outer Delhi's Sultanpuri area seeking help to obtain a ration card.
Kumar was removed from AAP government on August 31 by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after the CD surfaced.
The MLA from Sultanpur Majra had surrendered before the investigators at the office of DCP (Outer) in Pitampura, where his statement was recorded.
Soon after the controversy, the MLA had defended himself, saying he has been targeted.
