AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, arrested in sexual harassment case, gets bail

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Thursday granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Amanatullah Khan, who was arrested on Wednesday after a sexual harassment complaint by his brother-in-law's wife.

Khan represents Okhla constituency in south Delhi.

He was remanded to one-day judicial custody yesterday.

Metropolitan Magistrate Vijeta Singh Rawat gave the relief to the politician on a personal bond of Rs 35,000 and a surety of the like amount and asked him not to contact the complainant or threaten her to take back the complaint.

"He shall not in any manner whatsoever interfere in the ongoing probe," the court said, adding that whenever he is required in the police station, he will join and not come along with his supporters.

While imposing certain conditions on him, the court said that if violated, the investigating officer (IO) will be at liberty to approach the court for cancellation of Khan's bail.

"Prima facie from the allegations, it appears that Section 498A of IPC as such is not made out against the accused as there is no evidence for any demand of dowry or regarding mental/ physical cruelty perpetrated by him on the complainant.

"The primary allegations against him are of section 354 IPC which are of year 2011-2012. However, there are allegations of section 509 IPC which may be recent in nature," the court said.

The court passed the order after the IO said that the politician was not required for custodial interrogation and the probe regarding him was complete.

In its order, the court also warned the MLA saying, "he shall not in any manner whatsoever, personally or through his relatives, contact the complainant or threaten her to take back the complaint."

Following the complaint by the woman (spouse of his wife's brother), a FIR was lodged against Khan at the Jamia Nagar police station in south Delhi on September 10.

 

The complainant accused Khan of pressurising her to establish physical relations. Khan has denied the allegation, saying he had "no connection with the woman at all".

The AAP leader was booked under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force on woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 506 (criminal intimidation), 498-A (relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) and criminal conspiracy, police said.

Khan had gone to the Jamia Nagar police station on Sunday to surrender, but police refused to arrest him.

(With Agency inputs)