Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has begun investigating the allegations of molestation against its newly-elected MLA Dharmendra Koli. The party also warned Congress opponent Veer Singh Dhingan of a defamation suit if his claim is proven a sham.
"We are fact-checking,if he has done wrong then strict action will be taken. We are not ruling out the option that this may be politically motivated," Manish Sisodia, AAP leader and MLA from Patparganj constituency, told ANI.
Koli, the youngest AAP MLA, was booked on charges for molesting Veer Singh's wife on Monday, under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 147 (punishment for rioting), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 452 (house trespass) and 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter) of the IPC.
According to the complaint lodged by three-time Congress MLA Dhingan, Koli and AAP supporters forcibly entered his house at Tahirpur and misbehaved with his wife. The incident allegedly took place after the announcement of the 4 December Assembly election results on Sunday.
"After winning Dharmendra Kohli took out a rally. We spoke to thousands present there then and no such incident happened. It's a political conspiracy,a defeated candidate is blaming the winning candidate," Sisodia said on Tuesday.
Koli also denied the allegations saying, "It was a fake case and an attempt to malign my image," reported PTI.
AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal also vouched for Koli when he said on Tuesday, "Allegations against Dharmendra Koli are absolutely wrong."
AAP issued a statement saying, "Koli will be expelled from the party if the allegations are found true but a defamation suit will be filed if they turn out to be false."
A week before the Delhi Assembly polls last month, a sting operation was carried out by media organisation Media Sarkar in a bid to prove corruption within the AAP and its readiness to accept donations without receipt.
The allegations and the sting operation was proven false by the party and a defamation case was lodged against the company.
