Businessman raises hands for Shri Ram chant at Arun Govil rally, loses Rs 36,000

A businessman raised both his hands and chanted 'Jai Shri Ram' as a BJP roadshow featuring Ramayan stars crossed his shop in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut only to find later that he lost his Rs 36,000 as someone from the crowd picked his pocket. Businessman Kulbhushan, was amongst a dozen people who were robbed of their wallets and mobiles during the poll roadshow.

BJP Meerut candidate Arun Govil, who portrayed Lord Ram in the famous TV serial 'Ramayan', along with his co-stars from the iconic show - Dipika Chikhlia, who played Sita, and Sunil Lahri, who played Lakshman held a roadshow in the city on Monday.

However, several people, including journalists, and a BJP leader, approached the police to file complaints about thefts during the roadshow.

"I was sitting at my shop. I went as I saw Arun Govil's convoy. I raised my hands and chanted Jai Shri Ram. There was a big crowd. As I got back and searched my pocket, there was no money. I fainted right there. I lost Rs 36,000," said Kubhushan.

Alok Sisodia, the coordinator of the BJP's western region, also had his mobile phone stolen. It is alleged that some miscreants took advantage of the crowd and carried out the theft.

Police, on the other hand, have arrested three people, residents of Delhi and also recovered stolen mobiles from them. A car with a Delhi number was also seized.

The Meerut constituency in Western Uttar Pradesh will go to polls in the second phase on April 26.

(Inputs from Usman Chaudhry)