Rape-accused BJP MLA's clout on display on home turf

Rape-accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar's clout was on display at his village, when a large number of his supporters raised slogans in favour of the lawmaker and against the members of the special investigation team (SIT), media and the victim's family even as the SIT recorded the statement of the victim. SIT is likely to submit its interim report late Wednesday.

According to sources, the MLA's supporters, who had been brought from the nearby areas, protested what they alleged ''character assassination'' of the lawmaker.

The cops had a tough time in ensuring that the victim's family members got into their house in the village safely.

Police sources termed the protests by the MLA's supporters as a ''pressure tactic''. ''We will not be influenced by such things and act as per the evidence,'' said a senior police official.

The wife of the MLA, Sangeeta Senger, faced the media on Wednesday and defended her husband. She claimed that the rape charge was ''politically motivated''.

''The girl (victim) is acting under the influence of our political rivals,'' Sangeeta alleged.

The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday took suo motu cognisance of the matter and sought a report from the Uttar Pradesh government by Thursday when the matter would be taken up for hearing.

Earlier, the victim's family accused the cops of locking them up in a room in a hotel in Unnao town and said that they were not even allowed access to food and water. Police, however, denied the allegations.

Opposition for CM's exit

Five persons, including the MLA's brother and the goons of the lawmaker, had been arrested by the police after the victim's father died under mysterious circumstances in the district hospital, where he was taken for treatment from jail.

The victim, also a resident of Bangarmau area, had alleged that the MLA, his brother and some other supporters had gang-raped her after she had approached the lawmaker for a job.

The victim had attempted self-immolation near UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's official residence on Sunday in protest against the failure of the police to act against the lawmaker but was prevented by some alert cops.

Six police personnel, including the Makhi Station House Officer, have been suspended on charges of laxity, police sources here said.

The Opposition parties have demanded the resignation of Adityanath on moral grounds.