UP MLA held for violating lockdown curbs, let off on bail

Uttar Pradesh MLA Amanmani Tripathi and 12 of his associates were arrested in Rishikesh for allegedly violating lockdown restrictions and let off subsequently on bail, officials said on Monday. The Uttar Pradesh government sought to distance itself from the incident, saying the Independent MLA was neither authorised by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath nor by the state government to visit Uttarakhand during the nationwide lockdown.

The MLA and his friends were arrested late of Sunday night while returning after being stopped by authorities in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district from proceeding to Badrinath. A convoy of three cars carrying the MLA and his associates was first intercepted by policemen at a barrier in Gauchar on way to Badrinath but the Nautanwa MLA produced a letter of permission purportedly issued by authorities in Dehradun and moved on.

However, they were stopped again at a barrier in Karnaprayag by police and administrative officials, who told them that the portals of Badrinath were scheduled to open on May 15 and there was no point in letting them go further, SDM, Karnaprayag, Vaibhav Gupta said. The MLA got angry and argued with officials but they did not relent and forced the convoy to return, the officials said.

They were intercepted again at Vyasi police outpost in Rishikesh as there were more than three persons in each car and all without masks in violation of lockdown curbs, Muni ki Reti police station in-charge RK Saklani said. A case was registered against them under different sections of the IPC, Epidemic Act and the Disaster Management Act and they were arrested, he said. However, they were let off subsequently on personal bail bonds and allowed to leave for Uttar Pradesh.

In a statement issued in Lucknow on Monday, the UP Government said, "As reports published in a section of the media that MLA Amanmani Tripathi was authorised by UP Chief Minister to visit Uttarakhand. In this context, it is to be clarified that he (Amanmani Tripathi) was neither authorised by UP Chief Minister nor by the UP Government (to visit Uttarakhand). He is responsible for his actions. Linking the facts to Chief Minister by him is objectionable." PTI ALM NAV RDM RDM.