Actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu, accused in Red Fort violence, arrested

Farmers` protest at Red Fort on Republic Day. Pic/AFP

Actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu, who was booked in connection with the religious flag incident at Red Fort on Republic Day during a farmers' tractor rally has been arrested, the police said on Tuesday.

The Police had announced cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for information that can lead to the arrest of actors Deep Sidhu and three others in connection with the Republic Day violence in Delhi.

"We have arrested the wanted-accused Deep Sidhu," said Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, DCP Special Cell.

"Deep Sidhu was in contact with a woman friend and actor who lives in California. He used to make videos and send them to her, and she used to upload them on his Facebook account," Delhi Police sources told ANI.

The 36-year-old Sidhu was in the eye of a storm for being among the protesters who put up a religious flag atop the Red Fort on Republic Day.

Sidhu was present at the Red Fort when a religious flag and a farmer flag were put at the flagpole at the historic monument, triggering massive outrage.

Sidhu had been accused by farm bodies of trying to defame their agitation and termed a "traitor".

Thousands of protesting farmers had clashed with the police during the tractor parade called by farmer unions on January 26 to highlight their demand for repeal of the Centre's three farm laws.

Many of the protesters, driving tractors, reached the Red Fort and entered the monument. Some protesters even hoisted religious flags on its domes and a flagstaff at the ramparts, where the national flag is unfurled by the Prime Minister on Independence Day.

Sidhu was also a close aide of BJP MP Sunny Deol, who contested from the Gurdaspur seat in Punjab during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He remained with Deol during the poll campaigning.

Deol had distanced himself from Sidhu in December last year after he joined the farmers' agitation.

(With inputs from agencies)