Jaipur. Naresh Meena has faced another legal setback as the Rajasthan High Court rejected his bail plea. The independent candidate from the Devli-Uniara assembly seat, accused in the infamous slap incident during the by-election, was denied relief by the court. On Wednesday, Justice Anil Upman’s bench refused to grant bail to Naresh Meena.
Following the rejection, Naresh Meena’s lawyer, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, requested permission to withdraw the petition, which the court accepted. As a result, the plea will not be considered dismissed on merit but as voluntarily withdrawn.
Government’s Argument and Court’s Decision
Government lawyer Narendra Dhakad argued in court that Naresh Meena had slapped SDM Amit Chaudhary, an election officer on duty. He stated, “If a public representative engages in such actions, it sends a wrong message to society.”
In contrast, Naresh Meena’s lawyer contended that his client had been in jail for a long time and that it was a minor incident, warranting bail. However, the High Court upheld the prosecution’s argument and denied bail to Meena.
What Led to the Controversy?
During the Devli-Uniara by-election, residents of Samaravata village in Tonk district boycotted the voting process. Independent candidate Meena sat in protest alongside the villagers, accusing officials of forcing people to vote. In a heated moment, Meena stormed into the polling booth and slapped SDM Amit Chaudhary.
Violence and Arson After the Incident
Following the slap incident, Naresh Meena returned to his protest, but tensions escalated between demonstrators and the police. The police detained him, triggering outrage among his supporters. In response, a massive group of protestors forcibly freed Naresh Meena from police custody. The situation spiraled out of control, leading to police baton charges and allegations of stone-pelting. During the chaos, several vehicles in the village were set on fire.
Previous Bail Rejection in Samaravata Violence Case
This is not the first time Naresh Meena has been denied bail. On February 12, the High Court had previously dismissed his plea in connection with the Samaravata village violence case. The court emphasized that individuals who disrupt the election process and incite violence should not be granted bail.
Furthermore, the court noted that Naresh Meena had used social media to mobilize and provoke his supporters, which contributed to the violence. The judgment reinforced that denying bail to such offenders was justified to maintain law and order.
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