High drama outside ITC hotel in Gurugram as Rajasthan police’s Special Operations Group denied entry

Sumedha Sharma

Tribune News Service

Gurugram, July 17

High drama prevailed outside ITC Grand Bharat Tauru when the Rajasthan Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) was stopped from entering the hotel by a team of Haryana police.

The arguments between two khaki brigades continued for over one-and-half-hour before the team looking for Sachin Pilot supporter MLAs was allowed to enter the resort.

While Gurugram police denied it being their jurisdiction, Nuh police had nothing to say so far. The Haryana cops who stopped SOG did not even have name badges and refused to divulge any details about their names, ranks and concerned department to the SOG team.

Haryana police have shown up at two resorts, about 5 km apart, reportedly setting up a showdown with the visiting cops from Rajasthan. While one is ITC Grand Bharat, which hosted MLA’s till Tuesday, the other is Best Western Country Inn, where they shifted on Tuesday.

A video grab of the 16 MLAs was allegedly shot here and it was declared a quarantine centre overnight. The speculations are rife that the showdown between cops is allegedly aimed at helping some MLAs to leave for another safe location.

The SOG team is looking for The MLA’s to quiz them about ‘unverified’ leaked audio recordings where the MLAs have been allegedly caught discussing bribes from BJP to allegedly topple the Congress’ Gehlot government.

The Tape was used as evidence by Rajasthan government to file an FIR alleging trading and the team is reportedly here to collect evidence in the form of voice samples. While the FIR mentions unknown as key accused, sources claim that they had been looking for suspended MLA Bhanwar Lal Sharma, who, according to the Congress party, is ‘heard 'conspiring’.

The team reached the resort late evening and was stopped by Haryana cops saying they had no information of any inter-state police operation.

High places sources revealed that the Haryana police not only was present at Grand Bharat but also Best Western Country Inn, five kilometres from here.

The MLAs were reportedly shifted there two days ago and it had been declared a quarantine centre to shield them. The SOG, which has found nothing in Grand Bharat so far, is expected to reach there then.

The MLAs reportedly ‘scared’ of an impending arrest of two — Bhanwar Lal Sharma and another MLA Vishwendra Singh. The Rajasthan Congress alleges that Pilot has “hidden” MLAs in Haryana to get cover from the local BJP government.