'Acted in Self Defence': Despite Arrest, Kailash Vijayvargiya's Son Justifies Beating Civic Officer With Cricket Bat

New Delhi: Akash Vijayvargiya, BJP general secretary's son and the party's MLA in Madhya Pradesh, was on Wednesday arrested for attacking a civic body official with a cricket bat, after a heated argument over a demolition drive.

A video of the assault went viral on social media, after which police filed an FIR against Vijayvargiya and 10 others in connection with the assault, an official said, adding that the legislator has been sent to judicial custody till July 7.

Kailash Vijayvargiya's son Akash went about beating up the officer even as media persons surrounded him with cameras and recorded the entire incident.

Justifying his action, Akash said, "In the BJP, we have been taught, pehle aavedan, phir nivedan aur phir danadan. (first request and then attack)." He added that he does not regret his act and did it in "self-defence".

Eye-witnesses said the locals were protesting against razing of a house when Akash, who was a part of the protest, warned the civic body staff of consequences if they do not leave the spot.

His supporters even removed the keys of the earth moving machine brought in to carry out the demolition, they said.

Amid heated exchange, Akash brought out a cricket bat and started hitting an officer who was talking over his mobile phone. The MLA's supporters also attacked the officer and abused him while police personnel tried to bring the situation under control.

Soon after the incident, Indore Municipal Corporation employees held a demonstration by stopping their work.

Akash said some civic officials were razing even those houses which are in a good condition, by declaring them as dilapidated.

"This is a conspiracy between owners of the houses and officials. They want to raze the houses so that leaders of the ruling Congress can take possession of the land," he said.

Condemning the assault, state Congress spokesperson Neelabh Shukla said, "The lawmaker himself has broken the law. The incident has exposed the real face of the BJP."

Congress president Rahul Gandhi's brother-in-law and Priyanka's husband Robert Vadra also condemned the incident. "Look at the arrogance with which he is hitting him.There is no justification for this rowdy act," he tweeted.