FIR not shown, not allowed to meet counsel: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on ‘illegality’ of her detention

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Oct 05, 2021: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was arrested on Monday for defying prohibitory orders to visit Lakhimpur Kheri, has released a statement on her detention. Talking about the “continuing illegality” of her confinement, the Congress leader said she has not been shown any notice or FIR of her arrest, even 38 hours after she was detained.

 

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that she was placed under arrest as “verbally informed” by the arresting officer DCP Piyush Kumar Singh, CO City, Sitapur. She was detained under Section 151 of CrPC at 4:30 am on October 4.

The Congress leader claimed, “At the time I was arrested I was traveling within the district of Sitapur, approximately 20 km from the border of district of Lakhimpur Kheri which was under Section 144. However, to my knowledge Section 144 was not imposed in Sitapur.”

She further added that she was traveling in a single vehicle with four other persons-- two local Congress workers, Congress leader Deepender Hooda, and Sandeep Singh.

“No security car or Congress workers other than the four persons accompanying me were with me,” Priyanka Gandhi said.

The Congress leader said she was driven to the PAC compound, Sitapur, accompanied by two female and two male constables.

However, she claimed that there has been no further communication regarding the circumstances or the reasons behind her arrest after she was brought to the guest house on October 4.

“Having been brought to the PAC compound, no further communication regarding the circumstances or the reasons , or the sections under which I have been charged have been communicated to me by the UP Police or administration until now- -38 hours later at 6.30 pm on the 5th of October,” Priyanka Gandhi said.

She further added, “I have not been served with any order or notice. Nor have they shown me an FIR.”

Moreover, the Congress leader alleged that some people have been wrongfully named in the FIR.

Priyanka Gandhi said, “I have myself seen a portion of a paper on social media in which they have named 11 people- 8 of whom were not even present at the time I was arrested. In fact, they have even named the two persons who brought my clothes from Lucknow on the afternoon of October 4.”
Talking about h

er continued detention, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “I have not been produced in front of a magistrate or any other judicial officer either. I have also not been allowed to meet my legal counsel who has been standing at the gate since morning.”

She further added, “Presently I am not going into the details of the completely illegal physical force used on my colleagues and me at the time of my arrest as this statement serves merely to clarify the continuing illegality of my confinement at the PAC compound in Sitapur, UP.”

Courtesy:India Today