‘We are exploring all legal options’: Advocate as Harsh, Ruby Jain sent to 14-day judicial custody in Arunachal racial abuse case

Harsh Jain and his wife Ruby Jain have been arrested in connection with the alleged racial abuse and criminal intimidation of three women tenants from Arunachal Pradesh in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar.

The Delhi Police confirmed on February 25 that the couple was taken into custody following the alleged incident involving the three women from the North-East residing in the area. 

Advocate Gaurav, Harsh and Ruby's lawyer says, "We are exploring all our legal options. Let's see. They have been sent to 14-day judicial custody. They were presented before the Additional Sessions Judge's Court...We will apply for bail at the earliest...I last spoke to them yesterday..."

The case, which triggered widespread concern, is being investigated by an officer of the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) under the close supervision of senior officials.

An FIR was registered at the Malviya Nagar Police Station under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), Section 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 

Section 196 (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, etc.), and Section 3(5) (acts done by several persons in furtherance of a common intention). Relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were also invoked during the investigation.

The accused were produced before the Additional Sessions Judge’s Court and remanded to 14-day judicial custody. Their counsel said they would move for bail soon.

Reacting to the development, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that his office has been in touch with both the victims and the Delhi Police since the matter surfaced, and assured that strict legal action would be taken against those found guilty.