Union Minister Raksha Khadse's daughter molested by miscreants in Jalgaon

Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs Raksha Khadse on Sunday said that a group of miscreants allegedly molested her daughter and a few others in the Muktainagar area of Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district.

Mumbai: In a shocking incident, Union Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs Raksha Khadse’s teenage daughter was allegedly molested by a group of youths during a fair in Muktainagar in the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra - sparking a massive public outrage against the MahaYuti-NDA government.

Under fire from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi which said that the law and order machinery of the state has collapsed, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the state Home Minister, assured that no one would be spared. His statement came hours after Raksha, a three-time BJP MP from Raver met top police officials of Jalgaon district after which the FIR was registered on Sunday.

Raksha is daughter of NCP (SP) MLC Eknath Khadse, a former six-time BJP MLA from Muktainagar, former minister and ex-Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly.

Raksha’s sister-in-law Rohini Khadse is the state NCP (SP) women’s wing President.

The Khadse family wields political influence in the Jalgaon district of North Maharashtra.

The incident of molestation took place coinciding with the Maha Shivratri festivities last week when the Sant Muktai Yatra is held annually.

Along with a group of supporters, a visibly-upset Raksha walked into the Muktainagar police station and ensured that a complaint against the offence was lodged and investigations were initiated.

“The yatra is organized every year in Kothali on the occasion of Maha Shivratri. I was in Gujarat. My daughter called me to ask for permission to go. I gave her the okay and asked her to take a guard and two to three staff members along. After going there my daughter and her friends were followed and pushed, and their photos and videos were taken. When my staff objected, the boys were very unruly,” she said.

“If such a thing happens under protection, imagine the plight of others,” she said.

"I have come as a mother seeking justice, not as a Union Minister and MP,” she said, adding: “These boys have taken videos of four or five girls. Crimes against women are increasing across the state, and the accused no longer fear the law. Many girls hesitate to come forward, but we must not remain silent. That is why I have personally filed this complaint.”

FIR under POCSO, IT Act

Sub-Divisional Police Officer Krushnat Pingale said that the police has registered offences under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhitya, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and Information Technology Act. “The group of girls were stalked…their photos/videos were taken on a mobile phone. We have registered an offence of molestation,” he said that there were seven accused of which one was arrested. The accused were identified as Aniket Bhoi, Piyush More, Saham Koli, Anuj Patil, Kiran Mali, and Sachin Palvi — were involved.

“One accused has been arrested, and the search for the others is ongoing. Aniket Bhoi already has two to four cases registered against him,” he said.

“The security guard of the Union Minister was present with one of the victims at the fair. A scuffle took place with him as well. His complaint has also been registered,” he added. On the delay on part of the police, he said: “There is no pressure from any side. I have been personally present here for the last two days. These boys were part of the fair and committed this act.”

No one will be spared: CM

Fadnavis said that no one would be spared. “Unfortunately among the accused, some of them are workers of a certain party,” he said, adding that of the group of accused, one has been arrested. “This kind of harassment is wrong; they cannot be forgiven, and strict action will be taken…no one would be spared,” he said.

Family slams government

The Khadse family slammed the government saying that crime against women seems to be on rise. “Criminals enjoy political patronage from local politicians,” said Eknath Khadse. “I have raised the issue in the legislature several times…government has failed to address such incidents,” he said, adding that in Maharashtra women had to ensure their own safety as there is no faith in the police. “If an incident like the molestation of a Union Minister's daughter can happen in Maharashtra, how will women and girls from ordinary families get justice?,” asked Rohini Khadse.

Law and order collapsed: Oppn

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi said that law and order machinery has collapsed in Maharashtra. The incident of a central s daughter being molested by thugs and security guards being pushed is extremely worrying and shows that women and girls are not safe in the state," said Maharashtra Congress President Harshawardhan Sapkal.

Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar said that it is unfortunate that the minister had to go to police station for lodging an offence. “he minister had to go directly to the police station to demand that the accused be arrested. We have been saying for a long time that the police are no longer feared in the state because gangsters get protection from the MahaYuti,” he said.