punjab

Updated: Nov 03, 2016 21:20 IST

The main accused in the June 24 burning of Quran and resultant violence in Muslim-dominated Malerkotla, Vijay Kumar, took a U-turn on Thursday by alleging that the police had forced him to name Aam Aadmi Party’s Delhi legislator Naresh Yadav in the case.

Earlier, Vijay had said that he had carried out the burning at the behest of Yadav, who was his “friend”. After this, the Mehrauli MLA was arrested for his suspected role in the alleged desecration, and is currently out on bail.

He too claimed to be innocent . “I have sufficient evidence to prove myself innocent. All which was said earlier was due to police torture.”

Also read | Malerkotla Quran desecration: What happened and who said what

Delhi-based businessman Vijay Kumar, main accused in the June 24 incident of Quran sacrilege. (HT Photo)

Reacting to his statement, senior superintendent of police, Sangrur, Pritpal Singh Thind, however, said: “The culprits often claim innocence during the trial. I don’t want to make any comment at this stage since the matter is sub judice.”

Vijay made this statement when he was produced in the local court for a scheduled hearing of the case. He told the media in the court complex that his earlier statement had been recorded under police pressure. “I was threatened and tortured by the police to say Yadav was involved,” said Vijay.

Meanwhile, during the court proceedings, Yadav’s advocate, Harpal Singh Cheema, demanded the purported confessional statement of co-accused in this case and the copies of call details of Naresh Yadav and his brother. “The case was postponed till December 1 with directions issued to state counsel to provide the details,” informed Cheema.