With Monu Manesar arrest, Haryana Police clears ground to go after Cong MLA

Sources said that with the two developments, the Khattar government has prepared the ground for tightening the noose around Congress Ferozepur Jhirka MLA Mamman Khan, who has twice failed to appear before the police in connection with the Nuh violence.

The BJP has consistently accused Khan of incendiary statements provoking the violence that erupted while the VHP and Bajrang Dal were taking out a Shobha Yatra. Both CM Khattar and Home Minister Anil Vij have accused the Congress of “orchestrating” the violence, given Khan’s role. On August 29, Vij told mediapersons that “wherever Mamman Khan went on July 28, 29 and 30, violence took place in Nuh”.

In a sudden development, the Haryana Police arrested Monu over “objectionable” social media posts, and within hours, handed him over to Rajasthan. (Credit: Nuh Police)

Khan has now filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court saying he feared being falsely implicated and arrested due to the statements of Khattar and Vij.

At the same time, both the CM and Home Minister have been silent on Monu’s alleged role, despite his posts on social media in the run-up to the VHP-Bajrang Dal yatra, claiming he would take part in it. This was seen as a taunt directed at Muslims in the area, angry over the official failure to take action against Monu over the February murders.

Before Monu’s arrest, Vij had said more than once that there was nothing objectionable in the social media post put up by him a few days before July 31.

The Haryana Police says it has arrested Monu now over another social media post, on August 26. This was timed with the VHP announcement that it would bring out another yatra in place of the one scuttled on July 31.

The Rajasthan Police, which had been looking for Monu since the February murders, had earlier said that it was not getting adequate cooperation from Haryana to locate his whereabouts.

The IPC Sections invoked by the Haryana Police against Monu include 153 (wantonly giving provocation, with intent to cause riot), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence), 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 109 (punishment of abetment if the act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment).

Since Monu was also found in the possession of a .45 bore pistol without legal documents – apart from two mobile phone SIM cards and three live cartridges – he was also booked under the Arms Act.

Apart from 295-A and Arms Act, the Sections are bailable.

Senior Congress leader and former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda said Monu should have been arrested long ago. “But when the Rajasthan Police came to arrest him initially, they (the Haryana Police) slapped an FIR against them. The CM had said on the floor of the House that there was a well-planned conspiracy behind Nuh violence. Now, when the head of a state says such a thing, it is their duty to get it inquired into. And who better than the judiciary for a fair inquiry? That is the reason I have been demanding a judicial inquiry in the matter,” he said.

After Monu’s arrest, Bajrang Dal state coordinator Bharat Bhushan accused the BJP of “betrayal”. “We never though that the BJP would succumb to political pressure and arrest Monu, who is innocent and has always promoted cow safety.” Bhushan said.

BJP leaders played down the action against Monu. Refusing to be identified, a BJP leader said he had been arrested over a questionable social media post, and handed over to Rajasthan since that state’s police was also looking for him in another criminal case.

Asked about the arrest Wednesday, CM Khattar said: “The case pertains to Rajasthan and the Rajasthan Police is investigating it. If he is found guilty, he shall get the punishment.” On investigations pertaining to the Nuh violence, he said they were on.