Leicester father and son jailed following fight at family wedding
LECIESTER East MP Keith Vaz has vowed to support two Midland men who were arrested and thrown in an Indian jail following a fight at a family wedding.
Amarjit Sohal and his 19-year-old son Talvinder, from Leicester are being held with other family members at a prison in north-east Punjab following accusations that they assaulted the owner of a wedding hall.
The men travelled to India from their home in Evington, Leicester for a family wedding on 3 October.
Reports in the Indian press say the pair have been charged with attempt to murder, criminal trespass, rioting, assault and robbery under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and various sections of the Arms Act after the marriage hall owner accused them of firing weapons.
The duo’s distraught family in Leicester have turned to MP Keith Vaz in the hope of securing their release.
Mr Vaz said he was “astonished” by the situation.
“In very good faith, this family went over to celebrate a wedding and now the groom is being held in custody,” he said.
“I am raising this matter with the Indian High Commissioner, I will raise it with the Foreign Secretary and if the situation has not been resolved in 2 weeks I have promised the family that I will go to India to make representations on their behalf.”
The duo’s passports have also been seized, a news report in India said.
The report claimed the owner of the wedding hall and his son were attacked by up to 20 people following the theft of a bag belonging to the wedding party from inside the marriage hall complex.
A number of other people also arrested are allegedly American citizens.
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office told The Leicester Mercury: “Consular staff have visited all British nationals in prison and we are in regular contact with the next of kin and continue to provide consular assistance.
“We will not speculate on the charges against them. The Indian police continue to investigate the matter.”
