The Lunawada police took him under custody from the Godhra sub-jail, where he had been lodged for investigation in the post-Godhra rioting cases in Panchmahals and Dahod district.
“We have arrested him on charges of poll code violation. He was arrested under Section 171 of the Indian Penal Code and under Section 188 of election code of conduct,” said Lunawada Sub-Inspector GK Vaghela.
During one of the election rallies in Lunawda on March 21, Chauhan had made derogatory remarks against the Congress president forcing the Election Commission (EC) to slap notices on him.
Earlier on Monday, the Dahod Police had arrested the MLA for his alleged role in the post-Godhra riots, after the Supreme Court allowed fresh investigations into the 2002 riots. Chauhan allegedly led mobs that torched houses in 21 villages of Lunawada, Devgadh Baria and Piplod, near Dahod-Panchmahals border.
The apex court had ordered re-investigation in a case filed at Devgadh Baria police station in May 2002, against Chauhan and 70 others, after two riot victims — Babu Sajorwala and Nazmuddin Sajorwala — filed an application in this regard.
Chauhan started his political career as president of the Rajgarh Taluka panchayat in 2002. With the rise in his popularity following the post-Godhra incidents, he was nominated as the BJP candidate from Rajgadh. He won the polls in December 2007. Despite being probed in several cases, Chauhan roamed about without any hitch and even attended state Assembly sessions. He even shared the dais with Chief Minister Narendra Modi at one of the election rallies and also addressed masses ahead of the Lok Sabaha elections.