In yet another big blow to the Aam Aadmi Party, a Delhi court convicted party MLA from Delhi’s Seelampur in connection to a threatening and assaulting case.   MLA Abdul Rehman and his wife Asma were convicted for threatening and assaulting Razia Begum, the principal of a government school in Jafrabad Zeenat Mahal, in 2009. According to rules, if the MLA is sentenced for the more than two years, he will be disqualified from the membership of Delhi legislative assembly. The quantum of sentence is likely to be pronounced on the next hearing on May 3. The AAP MLA and his wife face a maximum jail term of seven years.

Additional chief metropolitan magistrate Harjeet Singh Jaspal convicted the two accused in a case registered against them in 2010 under sections 353/506 (Para II) r/w 34 of the Indian Penal Code (use of assault to deter public servants from discharging his duty, criminal intimidation and acts done in furtherance of common intention). Asma was additionally convicted in charges under section 332 of the IPC (voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his or her duty).

The court said, “Having carefully considered the entire case, the documents placed on record, the police report, the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, the statement of accused persons, the arguments advanced by both the sides and the provisions of law and the rule of procedure, this court holds that the prosecution has successfully proved its case, beyond reasonable doubts, against accused Asma that she caused simple hurt on the person of a public servant in discharge of her duties.”

The prosecution has further proved beyond reasonable doubt that both the accused persons i.e. Abdul Rehman and Asma, in furtherance of their common intention, criminally intimidated the complainant and assaulted her, while she was holding the office of the public servant and was in discharge of her duties as a public servant, to deter her from discharging her duties, the court stated.

“Accordingly, both the accused are hereby convicted for the offences under section 353, 506 (Para II) read with section 34 IPC and additionally, the accused Asma is hereby separately convicted for the offence under section 332 of IPC,” it said.According to police, the complainant, Razia Begum, on the date of the incident, was holding the principal’s post. As per the complainant, on 04.02.2009, while performing duties as a principal of SKV School, Jafrabad, she was slapped by the accused, Asma, thus causing simple hurt to the complainant.