Congress Lawmaker Rumi Nath Arrested for Alleged Links to Nationwide Car Theft Racket

Guwahati:

Rumi Nath, a 34-year-old Congress legislator in Assam was arrested early this morning for her alleged links with a man called Anil Chauhan, said to be the country's "most-wanted car-lifter." Chauhan has allegedly been involved in the theft of about 3000 cars.

The police allege that Ms Nath has been under their scanner after she had arranged car passes for the Assam assembly premises for Chauhan in 2013 and 2014.

Ms Nath was arrested at around 7 am today from the MLAs' hostel in Guwahati. The police say want to question Ms Nath about her alleged links with Chauhan and on whether she provided him with protection, allowing him to operate out of Assam and the North East.

Ms Nath has been arrested under sections of the law that deal with criminal conspiracy, cheating and harbouring an offender, a police officer said.

The Guahati High Court had last week rejected the MLA's plea for anticipatory bail. She appeared before the media on Monday and said, "I am not absconding. I am innocent. Seeking anticipatory bail does not mean, I am guilty. If I am proved guilty, I am ready to go to prison."

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Ms Nath says she has no links with the alleged car-jacker and recommended the passes at the behest of Chauhan's wife, who is a Congress worker. She alleged she has been framed in a political conspiracy.

Rumi Nath was first elected to the Assam assembly as a BJP candidate from Barkhola constituency in 2006. She joined the Congress in 2010 and won the elections the year after as a member of that party.

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The legislator has been in the news before. In 2012 she converted to Islam to get married again, walking out on her husband and child. She later sued her second husband for domestic violence. He was arrested earlier this month.

Chauhan, who was arrested a few days ago, is wanted in a number of car theft cases in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and other cities, including Shillong in the north east. He was arrested five years ago in Meghalaya, but had escaped.