Vikul Chaprana, the District Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Kisan Morcha, was arrested on October 21, 2025, following the circulation of a disturbing video that captured him and his associates publicly humiliating a young man by forcing him to rub his nose on the road as an apology, all in the presence of indifferent police officers. The incident, which unfolded on October 19 at Tez Garhi Chowraha in Meerut's Medical Police Station area, stemmed from a trivial parking dispute near the office of Uttar Pradesh Energy Minister Dr Somendra Tomar.

Chaprana, invoking the minister's name to assert influence, escalated the altercation into a scuffle, damaging the youths' car windows and intimidating them despite police intervention attempts. The video's virality on social media platforms like X and Instagram, amassing over 500,000 views within 48 hours, ignited public outrage over misuse of political clout and police inaction, prompting swift law enforcement response amid mounting pressure from opposition parties and civil society.

The confrontation began when two young men parked their vehicle adjacent to the minister's office, inadvertently blocking access and sparking a verbal exchange with Chaprana, a local BJP functionary known for erecting celebratory hoardings for Tomar's birthday earlier in the year. As tensions rose, police from the medical station arrived to de-escalate and escort the youths and their car to the station for statements. However, the footage reveals Chaprana and his group halting the vehicle mid-movement, with a sub-inspector and constable visibly inside, while additional officers lingered outside.

Undeterred by the uniformed presence, Chaprana is heard boasting of his ties to "DSP Sahab" and the minister, compelling one youth—estimated to be in his early 20s—to fold his hands in supplication and perform the degrading act on the busy chowk, surrounded by onlookers and market-goers. The other youth, equally coerced, stood trembling as the group jeered. This brazen display of impunity, captured on a bystander's mobile phone around 5:30 p.m., not only breached public decorum but also highlighted systemic issues of political interference in Uttar Pradesh policing, where similar viral incidents have surged 25% year-over-year per state human rights commission data.

In the wake of the video's spread, Meerut police registered an FIR against Chaprana under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, alongside charges for damaging property. He was apprehended late Monday evening from his residence in Civil Lines, with his associates absconding but under lookout notices. The BJP, sensitive to its image ahead of upcoming municipal elections, distanced itself by suspending Chaprana from party duties pending inquiry, with state spokesperson Rakesh Tomar stating, "Such behaviour is antithetical to our values of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas."

Minister Somendra Tomar, whose name was repeatedly cited, issued a terse denial of any involvement, urging a thorough probe. Concurrently, the fallout extended to the force: Station House Officer Kirti Palace, along with constables Gaurav Singh, Chetan Singh, and Brijesh Kumar, faced immediate suspension and transfer to the Police Lines for "gross negligence". An internal report by Civil Lines Circle Officer Amit Kumar detailed how the officers failed to enforce Section 41A CrPC protocols for on-site resolution, allowing the humiliation to proceed unchecked, a lapse attributed to Chaprana's perceived "senior leadership backing".

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This episode underscores broader challenges in Uttar Pradesh's law enforcement ecosystem, where political patronage often eclipses accountability, as evidenced by a 2024 Amnesty International report documenting over 300 similar extrajudicial coercion cases. Eyewitnesses and the affected youth, now under counselling via local NGOs, recounted the trauma of public shaming in a culturally conservative region, fuelling demands for CCTV mandates at public hotspots and mandatory body cams for frontline officers. As statements from the suspended personnel are recorded and forensic analysis of the video commences, the case could catalyse reforms, including enhanced training on handling VIP-influenced disputes.

Chaprana, remanded to judicial custody until October 28, faces potential bail hurdles given the public interest, while the BJP's damage control efforts intensify to mitigate reputational harm in a state where farmer-related grievances, ironically central to Kisan Morcha's mandate, remain a flashpoint. The incident serves as a stark reminder that viral accountability can bridge the gap between power and justice in India's polarised political landscape.

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