Top Bhupinder Singh Hooda aide charged with sedition over Jat stir

The Haryana police on Wednesday booked Virender Singh, a senior aide of former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, on sedition charges for allegedly inciting violence during the recent Jat quota agitation.

An FIR was registered in Rohtak against Virender and Man Singh Dalal, who also allegedly figured in the taped conversation, under various IPC sections, including those relating to sedition and criminal conspiracy.

Most parts of Haryana remained calm Wednes-day, with people leaving their homes in violence-hit districts and supplies of essential commodities restored. Shops and businesses reopened in Rohtak, Bhiwani, Jind, Jhajjar, Sonepat, Hisar, Panipat and elsewhere.

An audio clip of a controversial conversation between Virender and a retired captain recently surfaced during the Jats’ agitation, but while he (Virender) earlier admitted the voice in the clip was his, claimed the conversation was “doctored”. He said he had not talked about instigating Jats or anyone else. Sources said the FIR was registered on the complaint of Bhiwani resident Pankaj Kumar.