delhi

Updated: Jul 31, 2016 14:14 IST

Aam Aadmi Party legislator Sharad Chauhan and seven others were arrested on Saturday night in connection with the alleged suicide of a woman party worker.

The volunteer accused Ramesh Bhardwaj, believed to be a close associate of Narela MLA Chauhan, of sexual harassment and committed suicide about two weeks ago. Bhardwaj, the prime suspect in the case, was arrested from Sonepat in Haryana.

Chauhan had earlier been questioned about his links with Bhardwaj and two other alleged AAP workers, Amit Kumar and Rajini Kanth, who were accused by the woman of forcing her to withdraw her complaint against Bhardwaj.

The woman, who alleged that the accused was being protected by the MLA, consumed poison at her home in northwestern Delhi’s Narela and died during treatment at LNJP Hospital on July 19.

After Chauhan’s arrest, AAP’s Ashutosh hit out at the Centre and alleged vengeance.

“Another AAP MLA arrested.Has Modi gone mad?Has he lost his mental balance? If PM acts with such anger/vengeance then is country safe!” he tweeted.

The fresh arrest came at a time the AAP was grappling with multiple cases filed against more than a dozen legislators --ranging from criminal intimidation and molestation to rioting and faking educational qualification.

The city-state government was also locked in a legal battle with the central government over the administrative control of capital Delhi.

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