Ishrat S Banwait
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 19
Vikas Barala, accused of stalking and abducting 29-year-old Varnika Kundu, has not applied for bail. Reason: His father BJP chief Subhash Barala is not interested in getting him out and wants an interference-free probe.
Vikas, who is now entitled to bail, was sent to judicial custody on August 12. The next hearing is scheduled for August 25.
Vikas and his friend Ashish were re-arrested on August 9 and charged with attempted abduction under Section 365 of the Indian Penal Code, and also under Section 511, a provision that deals with attempt to commit an offence punishable with life or other imprisonment. Defence counsel Surya Prakash said, “Vikas was eager to apply for bail, but his father wasn’t.”
The suspects reportedly chased Kundu in their car while she was driving home. They blocked her way with their vehicle in the early hours of August 5.