MLA Ganesh Joshi, who attacked horse 'Shaktiman', arrested; BJP says 'political conspiracy'

Lucknow: Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Ganesh Joshi, who is accused of allegedly attacking horse 'Shaktimaan' during a protest by his party workers, was on Friday arrested by the Dehradun police.

Joshi was produced before the court, which sent him to 14-day judicial custody.

IG (Garwhal) had earlier confirmed the arrest of BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi.

I haven't received any information on this as yet: Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat had also said when reporters asked him to confirm Joshi's arrest.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand BJP president Ajay Bhatt said, ''It is still not confirm whether he was arrested by police or kidnapped by some unidentified people.''

He (Ganesh Joshi) was gheraoed by some people who came in civil dress. We will raise this issue in state assembly, Ajay Bhatt said.

Reacting to BJP's charge of political conspiracy in Joshi's arrest, Uttarakhand DGP BS Sidhu said, ''Prior permission of the State Assembly is not needed for arrest of an MLA in criminal case.''

Joshi, who had repeatedly denied attacking the horse, had on Thursday visited the stable to see the injured police horse.

Mussoorie MLA Joshi had earlier been booked for beating the police horse with a stick during the party's protest on March 14.

Under fire, the legislator insisted that he had not inflicted injury on the horse and that it had gone out of control during the protests and one of its hind legs got stuck in a hole dug up to put up the barricades, injuring it.

The beast underwent a surgical procedure yesterday to fix one of its hind legs.

People for Animals (PFA) Uttarakhand member Gauri Maulekhi had demanded that the BJP MP should be arrested and expelled from the party.

'Shaktiman', a well-trained horse which was part of Uttarakhand Mounted Police for years, was allegedly attacked by Joshi during the march. The animal suffered fractures in one of his hind legs during the protest.

An FIR was lodged at Nehru Colony Police Station against Joshi and his associates.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat had also expressed concern over the horse's condition.

WATCH: BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi accused of attacking police horse Shaktiman, arrested in Dehradun.https://t.co/H3HVm1ybRR

— ANI (@ANI_news) March 18, 2016