Sapna Choudhary suicide case: Activist Satpal Tanwar booked for abetment

A social activist has been booked in Haryana in connection to the suicide bid by Haryanvi folk singer Sapna Choudhary. [caption id=“attachment_2992108” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Sapna Choudhary. Image courtesy: Facebook/ Manoj Bajiya Viratnagar[/caption] The Times of India reports that an FIR was lodged on Sunday against Satpal Tanwar for molestation and criminal intimidation. The singer reportedly attempted suicide on Sunday by consuming poison in Delhi’s Nazafgarh area. She is now in a stable condition. In a five-page suicide note the singer had pointed to the social activist for harassing her saying that a song she had sung on stage in Gurgaon in February had hurt Dalit sentiments. An India Today report suggests that she also had two cases filed against her under the SC And ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for the same and a special investigation team were investigating them. All Haryana Scheduled Caste Employees Federation Vice President Sukhdev Singh Bhukhal said to India Today, “Sapna Chaudhary has insulted a particular caste which has deeply hurt the community. The controversial song is now being shared on social media.” The Hindu mentions that Choudhary has claimed in the note that Tanwar ran an online propaganda against her even raising questions on her character. “I am in this profession to earn a livelihood…The reason for my step is only and only Satpal Tanwar. With folded hands I appeal to those in the Haryana Cabinet to not trouble my mother after this and ensure the strictest possible punishment for Tanwar [sic],” she wrote. Though Choudhary apologised to the Dalit community for hurting their sentiments through the letter, she also said that the song ‘Ragini’ has also been sung by others as well. A report in The Indian Express says that Tanwar has also filed a police complaint against Choudhary’s family for attacking him on Monday outside the Gurgaon police commissioner’s office. The activist termed the suicide attempt as a “bid to evade legal action”.