Fast track court will examine Banda rape case, says Mayawati

LUCKNOW - Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, who has been under immense presence to act against her own party MLA, on Saturday said Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Purshottam Naresh Dwivedi, who has been accused of raping a minor dalit girl will not be spared if the charges against him are proved correct.

Addressing a rally on the occasion of her 55th birthday, Mayawati said she will constitute a fast-track court to get justice for the minor girl.

“From the prima facie it seems that the girl was wrongly framed by the MLA in theft case. I will constitute fast-track court to get justice. Charges of theft against the rape victim seem to be a part of a conspiracy and will be looked into. The MLA if proven guilty will be punished severely. The CBI and CID will not spare anyone,” said Mayawati.

“The Opposition and people are talking many baseless things about my birthday celebrations, this shows their attitude towards Dalit, the more they talk about my jewellery and clothes, my parents and well-wishers who have come to wish me, the more their fundamentalist mentality will be exposed,” she added hitting out at the Opposition and her several critics, who have targeted her again with regard to the expenditure spent on her birthday.

Earlier on Friday, the dalit stood by her allegations in the court and claimed Dwivedi raped her at his residence, along with three of his supporters.

The girl was allegedly raped on December 10-11 at Dwivedi’s residence. She escaped from the MLA’s house on December 12, when he allegedly attempted to rape her for the third time and charged her with theft.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate of Banda has sent Dwivedi to 14 days of judicial custody.

The MLA, who was on the run after orders for his arrest were issued, was taken into custody on Thursday.

The Mayawati Government had on Wednesday ordered the arrest of Dwivedi in the alleged rape case following which he had gone missing.

Mayawati had earlier summoned officials of the Crime Branch and Crime Investigation Department (CID), who are investigating this case.

“On the directive of the Chief Minister, a case of rape has been registered against the MLA and his three aides. Mayawati had also issued orders for immediate arrest of the legislator and three others. The action followed soon after the CB-CID submitted its preliminary report, which found Dwiwedi and his three associates guilty,” State Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh told reporters.

The investigating officials that conducted the preliminary inquiry in the case found that Dwivedi had raped the teenager and framed her in a false theft case. (ANI)