In a significant turn of events, Divyanshu Budhiraja, the Congress candidate contesting in Karnal against former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar of the BJP, has been granted bail by a Panchkula court in connection with a 2018 property defacement case. Budhiraja, 31, is the president of the Haryana Youth Congress and has faced legal challenges stemming from his political activism.
Budhiraja surrendered before the court, minutes before receiving bail, on charges related to defacement of property in 2018. The court of judicial magistrate Arunima Chauhan granted him bail upon furnishing a bail bond of ₹40,000 and a surety of equal amount.
The case against Budhiraja dates back to January 28, 2018, when a criminal case was registered under the Haryana Prevention of Defacement of Property Act. He had put up posters addressing issues of unemployment in the state, leading to legal scrutiny and subsequent charges against him.
Despite being declared a proclaimed offender in December 2023 due to repeated failure to appear before the court, Budhiraja continued to challenge the legal proceedings. He approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking to quash the charges, citing political vendetta and blaming the police for his failure to attend court proceedings.
After securing bail, Budhiraja expressed relief and reiterated his commitment to serving the people. He addressed reporters, accusing the opposition of conspiring against him and emphasizing his dedication to the welfare of the youth and addressing public concerns.
The emotional scenes unfolded as Budhiraja’s family members stood by him during the legal proceedings. His sister, Bhawna Arora, spoke passionately about his dedication to the youth and his ongoing battle against what she described as political vendetta.
Sources By Agencies