Folk singer Sapna’s anticipatory bail rejected

Gurgaon, September 8

A local court today rejected Haryanvi folk singer Sapna Choudhary’s anticipatory bail in a case registered against her under the Prevention of Atrocities (SC/ST) Act in July.

The complaint was made by Satpal Tanwar, local activist, who accused her of singing a song with anti-Dalit lyrics at a function in Gurgaon.

Tanwar’s advocate claimed it was defence’s failure to establish the “criticality” of Sapna’s medical condition after her attempted suicide that lead to the rejection of the plea. Sapna had consumed rat poison at her Delhi house on Saturday. She was admitted to hospital and her lawyer reportedly claimed she was on ventilator, a fact that could reportedly not be established in court.

In her suicide note, Sapna blamed Tanwar for accusing her of singing a song with words that allegedly denigrated Dalits during a stage show in Gurgaon in February. He then allegedly began a “negative campaign” against her on the social media, says Sapna’s note. She also alleged that Tanwar used derogatory language against her online and cast “aspersions” on her character.

Tanwar called her suicide attempt a “bid to evade legal action” in the case.—TNS