Hours before Arvind Kejriwal's rally in Surat, AAP MLA Gulab Singh arrested by Delhi Police in Gujarat

Surat: Delhi Police on Sunday arrested Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Gulab Singh from Gujarat in an alleged extortion case involving his associates. 

Singh, who is also the AAP's in-charge in Gujarat, had surrendered himself at Umra police station in Surat early today, following which he was arrested by the Delhi Police. 

The news of Singh's arrest came on a day when AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is scheduled to hold a rally in Surat. 

Earlier this week, a non-bailable warrant was issued against the AAP MLA for failing to join an investigation in an extortion case involving his associates. Singh's driver was arrested in the same case last month along with an associate.

Delhi CM Kejriwal too questioned the timing of the arrest on Twitter. "Just 2 days before Surat rally, Del police obtains Non-bailable warrant against our Guj prabhari, Gulab Singh in a completely false case. Will Gulab be arrested before the rally?" Kejriwal had tweeted.

On September 13, a case under section 384 (punishment for extortion) had been registered in the matter at the Bindapur police station. The FIR stated that two property dealers, Deepak Sharma and Rinku Diwan, had alleged that Satish and Divender, who work in Singh's office, and an associate, Jagdish, were extorting money from them. 

The report further mentioned that the trio had extorted Rs 2 lakh in two attempts, and were making a third attempt and demanded Rs 1.5 lakh. It has been alleged by the complainants that the extortionists came to them in a vehicle with a beacon that suspectedly belongs to Singh.

Following the investigation, Gulab Singh was named in the FIR and sent notices to join the investigation. However, with Gulab Singh 'not cooperating in the investigation', Delhi Police obtained a non-bailable warrant against the AAP MLA from Matiala.

AAP MLA Surender Singh confirmed the reports of Singh's arrest as he tweeted:

Aap ka Gulab singh yadev MLA arrest @ DELHI police ko milega Galentry award pic.twitter.com/aWkyccOMab — MLA Surender Singh (@AAPkaSurender) October 16, 2016