PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE Dehradun
Divya Pratap Singh, the son of former Khanpur MLA and BJP leader Pranav Singh ‘Champion’, recorded his statement with the police on Monday in the case of alleged assault on a former chief secretary’s son. Divya Pratap has denied the allegations levelled on him. He said that even after honking and using the siren, the other car did not give way, which led to an argument. He also said that he did not assault the person sitting in the other car.
The case is from November 13, when Divya Pratap was accused of beating R Yashovardhan, the son of former chief secretary S Ramaswamy, on Rajpur Road in Dehradun. Yashovardhan said he was driving from Dilaram Chowk towards Old Mussoorie Road when Divya Pratap and constable Rajesh Singh, stopped him. He claimed that they beat him badly and also brandished a pistol.
According to police sources Divya Pratap said in his statement that he had confronted the driver because he appeared drunk. He claimed that he was not aware of who was in the car.
After the complaint, the police registered a case against Divya Pratap and gunner Rajesh Singh at Rajpur police station. When the matter came to light through the media, Haridwar police suspended gunner Rajesh Singh. Haridwar district magistrate Mayur Dixit also cancelled the licences of Divya Pratap’s three firearms.
Police had asked Divya Pratap to record his statement by 17 November under Section 35(3) of BNSS. But he did not appear. His lawyer informed the police that Pratap was busy in training for an international shooting championship from November 18 to 30. A request letter seeking time was also submitted to the police.
Rajpur police station in-charge Pradeep Rawat said Divya Pratap has now appeared at the police station. The police will now take further action in the case as per the law.
