Gujarat BJP MLA held for firing on political rival
Ahmedabad (PTI): BJP MLA Shankar Chaudhary was arrested on Monday for allegedly firing at a political rival last month in Gujarat's Patan district.
"Chaudhary has been arrested in connection with a rioting case that took place in September. He fired upon some persons and entered into a fight," a senior police official told PTI.
Chaudhary, said to be close to Chief Minister Narendra Modi, also has a rioting case registered against him during the 2002 post-Godhra communal riots, but has an anticipatory bail in the case.
He allegedly fired upon a local Congress leader in Radhanpur town and also at some journalists after there were some reports allegedly published against him in newspapers.
The Congress leader was injured in the incident. Chaudhary, who moves around with his licenced revolver, was also criticised by the Gujarat High Court for not cooperating with the police in the investigation.
Pulling him up, Chief Justice Y R Meena had on October 8 asked, "Mr MLA if you break the law then who will follow it? Henceforth if is this is repeated then you will be in trouble."
In the post-Godhra riots that took place in his assembly constituency, Chaudhary is already accused of opening fire on people of the minority community. The matter is pending before the High Court.
Last year he created a flutter in the legislative assembly when he walked into the House with his revolver to show that lax security
