Shrikant Tyagi, a self-proclaimed BJP politico, who was seen abusing and thrashing a woman on video in a plush multi-storey Grand Omaxe residential society in Noida, was nabbed by the UP police soon after CM Yogi Adityanath ordered his arrest, reports Mudit Mathur
Shrikant Tyagi, who was seen abusing and thrashing a woman on video in a plush multi-storey Grand Omaxe residential society in Noida, has been finally arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police soon after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath himself took tough stand ordering his arrest and probe into the matter. The court sent him in judicial custody rejecting his bail pleas. The pleas in other matters, including in the FIR related to impersonation and cheating, will be heard by the Surajpur court on August 16.
Tyagi was booked by the police for assaulting and abusing a woman resident of Grand Omaxe housing society in Noida’s Sector 93 who objected to him planting trees in the common area of the society with an alleged intention to grab common area facility and green cover as his personal lawn. On August 8, Noida Authority rolled out bulldozers and razed the illegal structures outside his Noida flat. The demolition order was passed on RWA complaint years back but not executed earlier due to political power he wielded.
Tyagi fled the scene soon after the case was filed and Noida police was reluctant to nab him due to his political clout and alleged association with senior BJP leaders. In view of strong public outburst against him on the grounds and social media, the BJP leadership disowned him quickly though Tyagi posted many photographs with BJP leaders including its president J.P. Nadda on his social media handles.
Shrikant Tyagi’s official Twitter profile mentions that he is a National Executive Member, Bharatiya Janata Party (Kisaan Morcha); National Co-Coordinator, Yuva Kisaan Samiti Bharatiya Janata Party. However, both BJP and Kisaan Morcha have denied the claim. Although BJP leaders have denied any link with him, several reports have provided evidence that contradicts these claims.
Nine cases against him are registered against him with the Uttar Pradesh police ranging from encroachment and threatening incidents but nobody dared to touch him. His proximity with the high-level police officers is an open secret in Noida, and that perhaps was responsible for rise of his notoriety. Two cases were filed against the alleged BJP leader in 2007 under the sections of the Gunda Act and extortion.
One year later in 2008, a case was filed against Tyagi under police station of Sector 39 on multiple charges such as causing hurt, criminal intimidation, and mischief-causing damage. He was also booked twice in 2009 on charges of violence and rioting. Tyagi was further booked in a case of attempted murder and criminal intimidation in 2020, and an FIR against him was lodged in the Phase 2 police station. In 2019, a complaint was filed against him by the residents of his housing society for illegal construction. After the incident reported on 4th August, 2022, when he was accused of bullying and assaulting a female resident of his society in Noida, two more cases were filed against Tyagi.
Tyagi was dramatically arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police on 9th August following the mounting pressure of chief minister Yogi Adityanath over the issue of safety of women in BJP rule and a severe dent in his image of “Bulldozer Baba”. He was on the run since Friday, when the FIR against him was registered for assaulting the woman. Later, sections of criminal trespass, causing hurt, insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace and criminal intimidation were added.
Noida police commissioner Alok Singh told media that the Gangster Act would also be slapped against him. Singh said Tyagi claimed he had got the “vidhayak” (MLA) sticker on one of his vehicles “through (former MLA) Swami Prasad Maurya but Maurya denied issuing him any such pass.” It was also found a fake car pass as its validity was shown to be up to 2023 while it is issued on yearly renewable basis.
Noida police commissioner further said in his press briefing that five cars—two Fortuners, two Safaris and a Honda Civic—under Tyagi’s and his wife’s Anu Tyag’s name have been impounded. “The vehicles seized from the accused run in 001 UP 32 series. He made a bid for each number plate, and each cost around Rs 1,10,000.” “Tyagi’s driver also unauthorisedly got printed an emblem of UP government on its number plate on his instructions.”
Tyagi was provided security by the Ghaziabad administration between 2018 and 2020. He was provided with one personal security officer in 2018, which was later increased to four on the government’s orders. The security cover was withdrawn on February 26, 2020.
