Stalking case accused dropped from Haryana law officer post

CHANDIGARH: Ten days after naming Vikas Barala - an accused in a stalking case - as an assistant advocate general , the Nayab Singh Saini-led Haryana govt has dropped him from the appointment list, saying he did not report on joining day.

On July 18, govt had issued a list of 92 law officers, including Barala, who would represent state before Punjab and Haryana HC at Chandigarh and Delhi. Barala's appointment triggered outrage, and a govt spokesperson confirmed Monday his name had been dropped.

Except for Barala, rest of the law officers had joined duty, official said. Barala is facing trial as an accused in stalking and attempted abduction of the daughter of a senior bureaucrat (since retired).

Screening process under cloud as stalking case accused picked

Appointment of Vikas Barala, who is the son of Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Barala, as a law officer put a question mark on screening and vetting process as trial in stalking is on before a court in Chandigarh, with next hearing on Aug 2. Govt faced criticism from opposition parties and on social media for ignoring the case and naming Barala as law officer.

Normally, those affiliated to ruling party are appointed law officers, with tenure co-terminus with partys' rule.As per the plaint, on Aug 5, 2017, Barala and his friend Ashish allegedly followed bureaucrat's daughter and tried to stop her car. She called Chandigarh cops, who apprehended and booked youths under IPC 354D (stalking) and Motor Vehicle Act.Vikas's father was then state president of the Haryana BJP.