Navneet Chaturvedi remanded to 7-day police custody in fake nomination case for Punjab Rajya Sabha bypoll
Chaturvedi was taken into custody from Chandigarh’s Sector 3 police station and brought to Rupnagar late Wednesday evening
PTC Web Desk: Navneet Chaturvedi, accused of filing a nomination with forged proposers’ signatures for the Punjab Rajya Sabha byelection, was produced before a Rupnagar court on Thursday afternoon. The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) granted a seven-day police remand, with the next hearing scheduled for October 23.
Rupnagar police presented Chaturvedi in court and sought a 10-day remand; however, the court approved only seven days. During the proceedings, Chaturvedi argued that any action against him should have been taken in the Punjab Assembly, as he had filed his nomination papers there and had never visited Rupnagar. Due to an ongoing strike by Rupnagar lawyers, Chaturvedi represented himself in court.
The hearing saw some commotion outside the courtroom, with minor scuffles reported between police and journalists. Members of the media were prevented from entering the court premises, and the police temporarily confiscated journalists’ mobile phones, which were later returned. Reporters alleged misbehaviour by the Rupnagar police.
Chaturvedi was arrested late Wednesday night and brought to Rupnagar following a complaint lodged by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Dinesh Chadha. Chadha accused Chaturvedi of forging his signature on the nomination papers. Chaturvedi had earlier claimed support from 10 AAP MLAs when he filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha byelection.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered against Chaturvedi at the Rupnagar City police station. A special police team from Rupnagar was dispatched to Chandigarh to arrest him. Initially, the Chandigarh Police reportedly obstructed the arrest, but later the Rupnagar court issued directives instructing that no hindrance be caused in the process. Following the court’s order, Chaturvedi was taken into custody from Chandigarh’s Sector 3 police station and brought to Rupnagar late in the evening.
He underwent a medical examination at Rupnagar Civil Hospital before being lodged at the City Police Station.