Patna: JD(U) suspended MLA Sarfaraz Alam, appear GRP Police Station at Patna junction who was booked for allegedly abusing a couple inside Rajdhani Express, in Patna on Saturday. PTI photo Patna: JD(U) suspended MLA Sarfaraz Alam, appear GRP Police Station at Patna junction who was booked for allegedly abusing a couple inside Rajdhani Express, in Patna on Saturday. PTI photo

Patna Government Railway Police (GRP) Sunday arrested JD(U) MLA from Jokihat Sarfaraz Alam for allegedly misbehaving with a couple on the Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express on January 17-18.

The MLA, who had earlier denied that he was on the train, said during interrogation that he was travelling on it with his bodyguards without tickets. However, he denied allegations of misbehaving with the Delhi-based couple belonging to Punjab.

Alam was booked for sexual assault among other charges under the IPC. Patna Rail SP P N Mishra said, “He was called for interrogation a second time and arrested on Sunday.” Alam was suspended from the JD(U) on Saturday.

Late Sunday night, the MLA was released on conditional bail.

The police said they had a strong case against the MLA, who had allegedly used abusive language against the woman complainant. She reportedly recognised Alam after the police showed her his photograph.

The JD(U) suspended Alam reportedly after police studied CCTV footage that showed him coming out of Patna station after alighting from the Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express. State party president Bashistha Narayan Singh said: “The party cannot tolerate indiscipline. We suspended Alam.”

The couple lodged the complaint on January 18. The MLA then claimed he had taken the road route, and not travelled by train. He also produced toll tax receipts to prove his “innocence” and threatened legal action against people defaming him.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said Saturday: “I gave Alam time to meet me on January 19. When he did not turn up, I guessed there was something fishy.”

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