Cops give clean chit to rape-accused MLA

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday virtually gave a clean chit to rape-accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Senger despite booking him for rape saying that there is not "enough evidence" against him even as the victim apprehended a threat to her life and demanded immediate arrest of the MLA.

The state government recommended a CBI probe into the matter and said that it is now up to the central investigating agency to decide about arresting the MLA on the basis of evidence it might gather.

"At present there is not enough evidence against the honorable MLA to warrant his arrest... the victim had not named the MLA in her statement before the magistrate," said Arvind Kumar, Uttar principal secretary (home).

He said that the special investigation team (SIT)had submitted its interim report late on Wednesday night in which it had pointed out at the laxity of police and doctors in the matter.

Three doctors and a circle officer were suspended after the report.

The official drew flak for calling the rape-accused MLA "mananiya" (honorable) though he justified the prefix saying that his guilt was yet to be proven.

The victim, however, rejected the government's clean chit to the MLA and apprehended that she and her family members might be targeted if the lawmaker remained free.

"We want justice...the MLA must be sent to jail...we will not be safe if he remains free," she said.

The Allahabad High Court, which had taken suo moto cognizance of the matter, reserved his order till Friday after hearing the concerned parties. The court slammed the government for not arresting the MLA.

Five people, 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 has said that the MLA, his brother and their some other supporters had gang-raped her after she had approached the lawmaker for a job.