BJP’s Kailash Vijayvargiya denied bail for thrashing official with cricket bat

BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya's son and the party's MLA in Madhya Pradesh was on Wednesday arrested for attacking a civic body official with a cricket bat, after a heated argument over a demolition drive.

A local court rejected Akash Vijayvargiya's bail plea and he was sent to jail in the evening, an official said.

A video of the assault went viral on social media, after which police filed an FIR against Akash and 10 others in connection with the assault.

Akash went about beating up the officer even as media persons surrounded him with cameras and recorded the entire incident.

Justifying his action, Akash said, "In the BJP, we have been taught, pehle aavedan, phir nivedan aur phir danadan. (first request and then attack)."

"I was very angry. I don't remember what all I did. Let's see what happens," he added. He said there were no women members in the team of the civic body officials who went to the residential building during the anti-encroachment drive. He also alleged that the officers dragged the women residents and verbally abused one of them.

Eye-witnesses said the locals were protesting against razing of a house when Akash, who was a part of the protest, warned the civic body staff of consequences if they do not leave the spot.

His supporters even removed the keys of the earth moving machine brought in to carry out the demolition, they said.

Amid heated exchange, Akash brought out a cricket bat and started hitting an officer who was talking over his mobile phone. The MLA's supporters also attacked the officer and abused him while police personnel tried to bring the situation under control.

Soon after the incident, Indore Municipal Corporation employees held a demonstration by stopping their work.

Akash said some civic officials were razing even those houses which are in a good condition, by declaring them as dilapidated.

Condemning the assault, state Congress spokesperson Neelabh Shukla said, "The lawmaker himself has broken the law.The incident has exposed the real face of the BJP."

Reacting to the incident, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Bala Bachhan said, "You see, this is the real face and character of the BJP. They can't control their public representative. This is their conspiracy. We will take strict action against them."