Assault on Shaktiman: BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi's bail plea rejected

The ACJM court in Dhakrani on Saturday rejected the bail plea of Uttarakhand Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Ganesh Joshi, who is presently in jail for allegedly injuring a police horse, Shaktiman.

Joshi was on Friday sent to judicial custody for 14 days.

Meanwhile, the ruling Congress and the BJP have exchanged verbal volleys over Joshi's arrest.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Friday asserted that there was no 'political conspiracy' behind Joshi's arrest.

Shaktiman's left hind leg was amputated by veterinary doctors on Friday after it suffered multiple fractures during a BJP protest earlier this week. The horse was allegedly beaten with sticks by Joshi and his associates.

An initial assessment by doctors raised hopes that Shaktiman would not lose its leg. However, the worst was confirmed on Thursday as it had to be amputated to stop gangrene from spreading to other parts of his body.