BJP leader arrested for trying to sexually assault woman in UP

News Network

October 12, 2020

Badaun, Oct 12: A local BJP leader was arrested in Uttar Pradesh’s Badaun after a woman filed a complaint alleging that he tried to sexually assault her, police said on Monday.

Following the woman's complaint, a case was registered against Sahaswan BJP booth president Vipin Mali under Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and he was arrested on Sunday night, they said.

Mali was produced before a court on Monday and sent to jail, the police said.

According to the complaint lodged by the woman three days ago, Mali tried to outrage her modesty. He fled after she raised an alarm, they said.

He was absconding after the incident but was nabbed on Sunday night, they added.

A case under Section 354 of the IPC was lodged against Mali after investigation, said SHO, Sahaswan, Rajeev Sharma.

Meanwhile, Budaun BJP president Ashok Bhartiya claimed Mali has been "framed".

Mali had gone to Shahvazpur area to get garlands made when he was trapped by some people as part of a conspiracy, he said.

Bhartiya said he has full faith in the judiciary.

Mali has made headlines in the past for his controversial remarks on social media.

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Campus politics: DKS pushes to restore student elections in Karnataka banned since 1989

News Network

November 26,2025

Bengaluru, Nov 26: Karnataka is taking its first concrete steps towards lifting a three-decade-old ban on student elections in colleges and universities. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced Wednesday that the state government will form a small committee to study the reintroduction of campus polls, a practice halted in 1989 following incidents of violence.

Speaking at a 'Constitution Day' event organised by the Karnataka Congress, Mr. Shivakumar underscored the move's aim: nurturing new political leadership from the grassroots.

"Recently, (Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to me and Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) asking us to think about restarting student elections," Shivakumar stated. "I'm announcing today that we'll form a small committee and seek a report on this."

Student elections were banned in Karnataka in 1989, largely due to concerns over violence and the infiltration of political party affiliates into campus life. The ban effectively extinguished vibrant student bodies and the pipeline of young leaders they often produced.

Mr. Shivakumar, who also serves as the Karnataka Congress president, said that former student leaders will be consulted to "study the pros and cons" of the re-introduction.

Acknowledging the history of the ban, he added, "There were many criminal activities taking place back then. We’ll see how we can conduct (student) elections by regulating such criminal activities."

The Deputy CM reminisced about his own journey, which began on campus. He recalled his political activism at Sri Jagadguru Renukacharya College leading to his first Assembly ticket in 1985 at the age of 23. "That's how student leadership was at the time. Such leadership has gone today. College elections have stopped," he lamented, adding that for many, college elections were "like a big movement" where leaders were forged.

The move, driven by the Congress high command's push to cultivate young talent, will face scrutiny from academics and university authorities who have, in the past, expressed concern that the return of polls could disrupt the peaceful academic environment and turn campuses into political battlegrounds.

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