Zila Parishad member accuses Vice-Chairman of casteist slur

A Zila Parishad member of Ward No. 1, Aakash Podiya, has filed a complaint to SP Bhupender Singh against the Vice-Chairman for allegedly abusing him and using casteist words against him. An audio in this connection has gone viral.

Members of the SC Society also met the SP over the issue on Monday and demanded an inquiry into the matter. The Vice-Chairman, however, refuted the allegations, and also met the SP.

Podiya, in his complaint to the SP, said he belonged to the SC community. A meeting of the Zila Parishad was held on April 22, in which he presented a proposal against the Vice-Chairman, Arya Suresh Malik. After the meeting, Malik started misbehaving with him and also thrashed him, he alleged. The complainant further alleged that the Vice-Chairman used casteist words against him in the presence of some members.

He demanded the registration of a case under the SC/ST Act and other relevant Sections of the BNS.

Malik, however, refuted the allegations and said he, along with some Bar members, also met the SP in this regard. “I have also demanded a fair inquiry into the matter at the earliest so that truth may come out,” he said. “It is nothing but petty politics against me. Some people in the Zila Parishad are trying to spread propaganda against me by making some audio viral,” he said. “I flagged a scam worth Rs 9 crore at the parishad meeting held on April 22, after which some members got annoyed with me,” he claimed.

The SP said that a complaint had been received and inquiry had been handed over to the DSP City. On the basis of facts, an inquiry action would be initiated, he added.