Chandigarh stalking case: Vikas, friend sent in judicial custody

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12

A local court here on Saturday sent Vikas Barala and his friend, the two accused in the stalking and attempt to abduction case, to judicial custody.                       

They were sent to jail as Chandigarh Police did not seek their police remand.

The suspects, Barala — son of BJP chief Subhash Barala — and his friend Ashish were re-arrested on August 9 and charged with attempted abduction under section 365 of the Indian Penal Code, and also under section 511, a provision that deals with attempt to commit an offence punishable with life or other imprisonment.

Police reconstructed the "crime" scene on August 10 — six days after a woman claimed she was stalked, an incident that led to an outcry across the nation.

The suspects have denied any wrongdoing and have blamed the press for “media trial”

The suspects are accused of chasing down a 29-year-old woman, Varnika Kundu, in their car while she was driving home, and blocking her way with their own vehicle in the early hours of August 5.

Although police had previously arrested the two for stalking, an offence that attracts a jail term of three years at the first offence, they later added attempted abduction to their charges under growing public pressure.

The suspects had been released on bail soon after their arrest the first time, but were re-arrested after police added the charge.

Several people gathered in the city on Thursday to hold a protest rally called 'Bekhauf Azaadi' to protest crimes against women. With PTI