JD(U) MLA held for sexual harassment

The controversial JD(U) MLA Sarfaraz Alam was arrested here on Sunday, a week after he was charged with sexual harassment of a woman passenger in Rajdhani Express.

The 46-year-old legislator from Jokihat was earlier suspended by the JD(U) on Saturday for his misconduct. His arrest on Sunday came barely hours after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, presiding over Karpoori Jayanti function said that in Bihar there was “rule of law and it applied equally to all, even if the accused happens to be a ruling party MLA.”

Sarfaraz, son of RJD MP and former Union Minister Md Taslimuddin, has been booked under Section 354A of the Indian Penal Code (punishment for sexual harassment) after a couple travelling in Guwahati-New Delhi Rajdhani Express lodged an FIR against the law-maker accusing him of sexual misconduct with a woman passenger in A-2 coach.

Sarfaraz, who travelled from Katihar to Patna in the train, initially denied that he ever boarded Rajdhani, but after the CCTV footage showed him boarding the train and de-boarding at Patna, he eventually relented. By that time, the train superintendent had already reported the matter how the JD(U) MLA, travelling with his bodyguards, entered the AC-II tier of Rajdhani and forcibly occupied berth no 3, although he was not a bonafide passenger.

He did not show any ticket/pass or coupon (required by an MLA for travelling in the train). When the bonafide passengers of that berth (No. 3 and 5), a couple from New Delhi, objected, the MLA and his armed bodyguards reportedly misbehaved with the woman and her husband.

“An inquiry in this episode is going on. If the probe committee finds that the MLA has done wrong, we will not hesitate to even expel such elements from our party,” said Nitish here on Sunday.