Alirajpur (Madhya Pradesh) [India], July 16 (HBTV): A Congress MLA's son has been booked for allegedly attempting to run over a police constable after being signalled to stop during a late-night patrol near the bus stand in Madhya Pradesh's Alirajpur district, officials said on Tuesday.

The incident occurred on the intervening night of July 12 and 13, and CCTV footage of the incident has surfaced. The video shows a black SUV speeding towards two police constables on patrol. As the vehicle nears them, it collides with an electric pole, while the constables jump aside to avoid being hit.

Alirajpur Superintendent of Police Rajesh Vyas said, ‘On the intervening night of July 12–13, two police constables of Kotwali police station were on night patrolling duty at the bus stand area. During this, a vehicle appeared and the constables signalled it to stop, but the vehicle instead approached at a faster pace. They jumped to either side to save themselves and sustained injuries in the process.’

He added, ‘Based on the complaint, a case has been registered under Section 109 (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and Section 84 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. Efforts are on to apprehend the accused.’

Meanwhile, Mahesh Patel, husband of Congress MLA Sena Patel, confirmed that their son was driving the vehicle but denied any intent to harm the police personnel.

‘On the night of July 13, between 1:30 am and 2 am, my son was going to drop off his friends at the bus stand. There were barricades and police jawans present, along with an SDOP. While making a turn, the vehicle suddenly collided with an electric pole on the road, and a police constable fell to the ground. He was immediately taken to the hospital and discharged after first aid. The police’s decision to register a case under a serious section of attempt to murder is completely wrong,’ Patel told ANI.

He further alleged that political pressure was behind the invocation of such a serious charge.

‘We will appeal to the High Court to revoke the section of attempt to murder. It is a politically motivated move. The CCTV footage clearly shows the vehicle hitting the pole, not targeting the constables. This is an accident being wrongly portrayed,’ he added.

(ANI)