Student Leader’s Arrest Sparks Political Debate Over Police Action

Nirmal Chaudhary, former president of the Rajasthan University Student Union, was arrested on campus Saturday while taking an exam. The arrest is linked to a 2022 unlawful assembly case. Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Tejaswani Gautam confirmed Chaudhary's detention following the investigating officer's report.

Abhimanyu Poonia, Sangaria MLA and Youth Congress state president, was present during Chaudhary's arrest but was not detained. The arrest drew criticism from former chief minister Ashok Gehlot who condemned the police action as undemocratic, noting that Chaudhary and Poonia were detained during exam time.

The incident is tied to a protest led by youth leaders against alleged harassment by a senior doctor at Jodhpur's SN Medical College following the suicide of resident doctor Rakesh Chaudhary. Protestors, including family members and Nirmal Chaudhary, demanded accountability. Chaudhary faces charges of unlawful assembly and misbehavior with a police officer amid the ongoing investigation.

(With inputs from agencies.)