Jaipur, Aug 6 A special SC/ST court in Tonk on Thursday sent Naresh Meena to judicial custody in connection with the SDM assault case after he surrendered before police earlier in the day, officials said.
Meena surrendered at Nagarfort police station in the afternoon and was later produced before the court amid tight security. The court ordered that he be sent to jail, with his bail plea hearing scheduled on August 10.
Officials said Meena had earlier been granted a conditional bail by the Rajasthan High Court in the case related to slapping an SDM. However, the SC/ST court cancelled his bail on July 13, citing violation of conditions.
Speaking before his surrender, Meena claimed that the charge of attempt to murder (IPC Section 307) against him was "incorrect" and said only minor sections should have been invoked. He also said he did not know the SDM personally and pointed out that the incident was captured on video.
Police said Meena reached Nagarfort from Jaipur in the morning along with supporters, who gathered at several points along the Jaipur-Kota highway, raising slogans and welcoming him.
After his surrender, he was kept at the police station for around 20 minutes before being taken to court under heavy security.
Authorities had made elaborate security arrangements in view of the surrender.
Additional District Magistrate Vinod Kumar Meena said magistrates were deployed in Tonk, Deoli and Nagarfort areas, and prohibitory orders were imposed in parts of Tonk, Deoli and Uniara to prevent large gatherings.
The case dates back to November 13, 2024, during the Deoli-Uniara assembly bypoll, when villagers of Samravata had boycotted voting over a demand related to administrative jurisdiction.
Meena, then an independent candidate, was protesting with villagers when he allegedly slapped SDM Amit Chaudhary while opposing forced voting by some individuals, police said.
