The Karnal police detained two individuals, including Youth Congress district president Rajat Lather and his associate Ashok Kumar, for reportedly spraying black paint on posters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. However, a district court granted them bail on Saturday.
A video showing the duo applying black ink on the PM’s poster at the Karnal bus stand went viral on social media. After the video surfaced, BJP leaders filed a police complaint, which led to the arrest of the two Congress workers.
According to the police, the incident happened late Thursday night when the two were seen defacing a poster at a public place. A complaint was registered soon after, and police tracked down the accused and took them into custody.
“Rajat and his accomplice were arrested under sections 352 of BNS, Section 3A of The Haryana Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1989, and Section 3 of Prevention of Damage to Public Property 1984,” said SP Ganga Ram Punia.
The act sparked sharp political reactions. Karnal MLA Jagmohan Anand criticised the act, saying the behaviour “reflects frustration, not democratic dissent.” He said defacing posters of the PM and CM was disrespectful and that legal action was necessary.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders said the arrests were “politically motivated.” “Everyone has their own way of protesting, and our colleagues expressed their protest in their way. But we also respect the law and the Constitution. The issue is not the legal process, but the way these two were arrested — as if they were hardened criminals,” said Parag Gaba, Congress urban district president.
Rajat’s counsel claimed that the case was wrongly framed. “The Sections imposed were incorrect, and most importantly, the arrest was made without following due legal procedure. Police had no proper documents, nor did they clearly state the grounds of arrest. The court has seen all of this, which is why both have been granted bail,” he said.
Congress leader Inderpal Singh also questioned the police action, saying that the arrests were politically motivated.
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