Meghalaya BJP vice-president Bernard N. Marak, accused of operating a brothel at his farmhouse in Tura, has been arrested in Uttar Pradesh.
According to reports, Marak (46) was arrested in Hapur district of Uttar Pradesh today.
Police sources said that Marak was arrested while he was travelling in a passenger vehicle in Hapur.
It was also learnt that Uttar Pradesh police were conducting vehicle checking on a highway at Hapur when they spotted Marak travelling in a passenger car.
It is suspected that Marak left New Delhi yesterday for Uttar Pradesh to evade arrest after the lookout notice was issued against him.
He has been produced in a court in Hapur where the Uttar Pradesh Police has been granted transit remand before he is handed over to Meghalaya Police.
A team of Meghalaya Police is leaving for Uttar Pradesh to bring Marak on transit remand.
The arrest came hours after the Meghalaya Police put out a lookout notice for him.
Marak had been absconding after police raided his farmhouse ‘Rimpu Bagan’ in Edenbari, Tura on July 22.
Six minors were rescued and 73 persons were arrested during the raid on Saturday.
Police also claimed they recovered a huge quantity of liquor, around 500 packets of contraceptives, cell phones and incriminating documents during the raid.
A case was registered against Marak under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.
Marak however categorically denied all the charges and alleged that the police raid was staged since BJP is growing from strength to strength in Garo Hills region. He even accused police of attempting to eliminate him.
Yesterday, the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Tura had issued a non-bailable warrant against Marak.
Marak is an elected member of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC). The State BJP has termed the move as part of a political vendetta by the NPP-led government in the State of which the BJP is also a partner.
