BAREILLY: In a video that has gone viral on social media, BJP MLA Mahendra Yadav can be seen assaulting toll plaza staffers at toll gate in Fatehganj west here in Bareilly. The incident happened on April 17 in the evening when the lawmaker, along with his aides, was returning to Lucknow from Delhi on NH 24 and was stopped at Fatehganj west toll plaza at around 7: 45 pm.
Yadav is a BJP lawmaker from Biswan assembly constituency in Sitapur district. Interestingly, name of another BJP MLA Rakesh Rathore from Sitapur initially came up as the prime suspect but he himself clarified that it was Yadav and not him.
MLA Yadav said,” The toll plaza staffers misbehaved after I asked them to let go all vehicles in cavalcade as MLAs are exempted from toll fees.”
According to the witnesses, MLA Yadav insisted on all vehicles be allowed a free pass from toll gates which sparked tussle with toll plaza employees. A furious MLA stormed into the melee and started roughing up plaza staffers as the latter insisted on two other cars in the cavalcade pay up toll.
Speaking to TOI, Vaibhav Sharma, project manager, Bareilly- Moradabad highway, said,” Some people claiming to be MLAs misbehaved and assaulted toll plaza staffers following which we had lodged written complaint with the police,”
Based on the complaint by toll plaza officials, an FIR against unidentified is being registered at Fatehganj West police station under sections 323, 504 & 506 of the IPC. “As of now we have filed an FIR based on the complaint. Names will be included in the investigation once culprits are identified,” superintendent of police (Rural Areas) Yamuna Prasad told TOI.
