Jaipur: City police Saturday arrested former Rajasthan University Students Union (RUSU) president Nirmal Choudhary in a 2022 case registered against him for unlawful assembly and protest outside Rajasthan University. Choudhary, who won the last election with Congress support, was appearing for a philosophy exam at the university when police arrived in plainclothes and took him into custody. Cong’s Sangaria MLA Abhimanyu Poonia was also appearing for the exam at the same hall. The police team entered the examination hall shortly after the exam began and escorted Choudhary out. Poonia accompanied him in the police vehicle, leading to confusion that he had also been detained.Police later clarified that Poonia was not detained. “MLA Abhimanyu Poonia voluntarily accompanied Choudhary in the police van. He was not under detention. Choudhary was taken into custody in relation to an FIR filed in 2022,” said DCP (east) Tejaswini Gautam.A police officer said that in Aug 2022, Choudhary, along with several other students, blocked the road outside Rajasthan University. “He was under investigation for charges related to unlawful assembly, assaulting policemen, and causing public disturbance, among others. After a detailed investigation, he was arrested in connection with the FIR,” the officer said.Choudhary would be produced before a magistrate Sunday. DCP Gautam stated that necessary legal action was being taken as the case remained under investigation.Both Choudhary and Poonia recently led protests following the death of Dr Rakesh Vishnoi, a resident doctor at SN Medical College in Jodhpur, who allegedly died by suicide after accusing his HOD of harassment. The protests ended on Friday after an agreement was reached between the deceased’s family and the govt.Former CM Ashok Gehlot said Choudhary’s arrest during an exam was unjust and a violation of democracy. “The BJP govt did not listen to Dr Rakesh Vishnoi’s family initially, and when public representatives protested for justice, a case was registered. Public representatives have the right to raise their voices in the public interest. The state govt should release them immediately,” he said.Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully also referred to Choudhary’s arrest as unconstitutional alleging Poonia and Choudhary were demanding justice for the deceased resident doctor.RLP chief Hanuman Beniwal also said the leaders’ detention from the university campus by police was not only an act of hypocrisy by Jaipur police, but also a direct attack on the autonomy of Rajasthan University. “I strongly condemn this arrest and urge the state’s CM Bhajan Lal Sharma to take immediate action for their release,” Beniwal said.Choudhary was elected president of the RU student’s union in 2022. The university has since not had elections.
