Haryana Govt Drops Vikas Barala After 2017 Stalking Case Sparks Public Outrage
Haryana government drops Vikas Barala from law officer post after public outrage over his involvement in the 2017 stalking case; confirms he will not be joining.
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NEW DELHI: The Haryana government has withdrawn the appointment of Vikas Baralason of BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Baralafrom the list of newly appointed law officers. The decision comes amidst widespread backlash over Barala’s alleged involvement in a 2017 stalking and attempted abduction case that drew national attention.
Vikas Barala, who was recently named in a list of 97 law officers to be appointed as Assistant Advocate General (AAG) in Haryana, was dropped from the final roster after strong public and media criticism. His inclusion raised serious ethical and legal concerns due to his ongoing criminal trial.
According to The Tribune, the Home Department officially communicated the decision to Barala, confirming that he would not be taking charge as a law officer in the office of the Advocate General.
The 2017 Stalking Case
Barala first made headlines in August 2017 when, as a law student, he and his associate Ashish Kumar were arrested for allegedly chasing and attempting to abduct a young woman, the daughter of a senior IAS officer, in Chandigarh. The disturbing incident occurred late at night and sparked national outrage, with many seeing it as a chilling example of power and entitlement.
Barala was jailed from August 2017 until January 2018 before being released on bail granted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The case remains pending and is currently at the stage of defence evidence, with the next hearing scheduled for August 2, 2025.
The backlash intensified when the complainant in the stalking case posted an Instagram statementquestioning how someone facing such serious criminal charges could be entrusted with a position in the state’s legal system. She highlighted how such decisions undermine trust in public institutions and discourage survivors from speaking out.
The post went viral, sparking a wave of public discourse and media scrutiny, eventually forcing the government to reconsider.
Interestingly, reports suggest that Subhash BaralaVikas’s father and a sitting BJP MP, may have personally advised the government to drop his son’s name from consideration, possibly in an attempt to mitigate the fallout.
Despite completing his law degree in 2019 and gaining experience by being part of the panel of advocates representing government boards and corporations, Criminal is a criminal. proved to be a deal-breaker for many observers.
The controversy caused visible discomfort within the BJP. Several leaders questioned the timing and justification of appointing someone facing an ongoing criminal trial. Some defended Barala, stating that pending legal proceedings should not disqualify a candidatewhile others admitted that the appointment was influenced by Barala’s political connections.
One senior BJP leader, speaking anonymously, stated:
“The Chief Minister might not have had much say in the matter. His inclusion brought a bad name to us. On one hand, we promote ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao,’ and on the other, we approve the appointment of an accused in a sexual harassment case. The message this sends out is more damaging than the decision itself.”
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