Suspended BJP MLA has own army called ‘Champion Force’

DEHRADUN: In another intriguing revelation in the infamous gun-toting dance video saga of BJP lawmaker Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion, sources from the saffron party told TOI that the video was shot in a room of the Uttarakhand Sadan at Chanakyapuri in New Delhi where the legislator was staying last month.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source said, “According to protocol, occupants of rooms in Uttarakhand Sadan are not allowed to put up personal photographs on the walls of the rooms.However, Champion’s security personnel regularly carry his photographs in several wrestling poses and put it up in the room in which he stays. They also put up sign boards bearing ‘Champion Force’ there. It is likely in one of these rooms at the sadan that the video of the MLA dancing with weapons was shot.”
When contacted, Champion said, “What crime have I committed? Why am I being targeted for drinking in my own room? Is there a crime in possessing a licensed weapon? The video is doctored. It is all part of a bigger conspiracy against me.”
Notably, the Khanpur lawmaker had in June got into a heated argument with a reporter at Uttarakhand Sadan. The MLA had registered a complaint on the same day against the reporter claiming that he had tried to extort money from him. The saffron party had later suspended the legislator after videos of the argument went viral on social media.
National spokesperson of the party Anil Baluni when queried about the issue said, “It is upto the government agencies and police to investigate when and where the incident happened. We have issued a notice to him and will take suitable action if he fails to reply within the given time period of 10 days.”
Senior police officials however said that no case has yet been registered against Champion in connection with the video.
Meanwhile, amidst speculations about Champion joining BSP in the face of imminent expulsion from BJP, a few political observers said that with a sizeable number of voters to support him, BJP may play a ‘wait and watch’ game regarding the controversial legislator and not immediately expel him.