Bulldozers on Monday morning demolished illegal structures outside the home of Shrikant Tyagi, who claims to be a Bharatiya Janata Party leader, days after he assaulted a woman in Noida, The Indian Express reported.

In 2019, residents of the Grand Omaxe society in the city’s Sector 93 had filed a complaint with the Noida authority and Gautam Buddh Nagar Police against Tyagi for allegedly encroaching onto the green belt in the common area of the complex.

On October 16, 2019, the Noida authority issued a notice to Tyagi to remove the encroachment within 15 days. However, Tyagi claimed that the authority issued a letter to him last year saying the previous notice has been nullified.

On Monday, the bulldozers shattered two glass roofs of Tyagi’s home in the society, according to The Indian Express. Since the machines cannot raze the property, as it is located inside a multi-storied housing complex, workers are using hammers to break the wooden panels in the rear part of his home.

“The chief minister [Adityanth] has taken note of the whole case, we will not let the accused walk free,” said Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak. “Strict action will be taken against those who break the law.”

Meanwhile, the Noida Police announced a reward of Rs 25,000 to those who give leads in arresting Tyagi, who is absconding, reported ANI. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said his government was coordinating with the Uttar Pradesh Police to find Tyagi and will take strict action against him if needed.

On August 5, Tyagi was booked under Section 354 (assault or use of criminal force on any woman, intending to outrage or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code.

Several videos on social media showed him abusing the woman last week as she tried to stop him from planting trees in the society’s common area, citing violation of rules. Tyagi could be seen pushing the woman and verbally abusing the woman’s husband too.

Tyagi identifies himself as a national executive member of the BJP’s Kisan Morcha and national co-coordinator of the Yuva Kisan Samiti of the ruling party. However, BJP Noida Mahanagar chief Manoj Gupta claimed that Tyagi is not a member of the ruling party.

“Tyagi was never a BJP worker and we are standing in support of the society residents against this imposter,” he claimed. “Tyagi used to be an assistant of a former BJP leader, who has now moved to the Samajwadi Party. We absolutely condemn his act and want to clarify that he is not associated with the BJP.”

On August 6, Tyagi was booked for cheating by personation, cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property and using a false property mark. The statement in the FIR says that the car that Tyagi owned had a fake Uttar Pradesh government symbol that was being misused to create an atmosphere of fear to get economic benefits.

Station in charge suspended

Meanwhile, Noida Police Commissioner Alok Singh on Monday said that the station in charge at the Noida Phase-2 police station, Sujit Upadhyay, was suspended for a ruckus at the Grand Omaxe society, the Hindustan Times reported. Seven persons have been arrested, he added.

Five other police officials were also suspended for laxity in connection with the case, according to PTI.

The action was taken based on a FIR filed against 10 persons on August 8 based on a complaint from the security supervisor of the residential complex, Pradeep Kumar. He alleged that the men tried to enter the society complex under false identity and beat, abused and threatened to kill the guards.

The 10 persons have been booked under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including rioting, criminal conspiracy, voluntarily causing hurt, and breach of peace.