BSP Govt. taking Banda rape case ‘very seriously’: Mayawati

LUCKNOW - Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Thursday said the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Government led by her is taking the Banda rape case ‘very seriously’, and added that strict action will be initiated against those who have taken the law into their hands.

“We took the matter very Banda matter seriously and got it investigated by the CID immediately. You all know that once CB-CID report was released strict action was taken,” said Mayawati, while addressing a press conference here.

“The Jailor of Banda prison Gyan Prakash and Additional SP Banda Lala Ram have been suspended and departmental proceedings have been initiated against them,” she added.

Further pulling up the opposition parties for politicising the issue, Mayawati said: “Opposition members started using this issue in the wrong manner, they cried false tears. Where were these Opposition members when women in Delhi were being harassed? And that harassment hasn’t stopped yet.”

Meanwhile, the family members of accused BSP MLA Purushottam Naresh Dwivedi came out in the open to contend that the complaint against him is a conspiracy to tarnish his as well as the party’s reputation.

“It is a conspiracy spun to taint the image of the legislator and especially the image of BSP. I hope there is justice bestowed on us and we hope strict prosecution proceeded against the conspirators,” said Asha Dwivedi, wife of the accused MLA.

On his part, Dwivedi’s son Mayank said that his father could never be accused of rape charges, as it is not yet proved without DNA test and medical report of the victim that denies any molestation or sexual assault.

“He cannot be accused of rape charges as there is no DNA test done and the medical reports, the copy of which will be provided to you, clearly states that the girl is neither raped nor molested,” said Mayank.

“The matter has gone to High Court and Supreme Court, we are putting all our effort, the day my father is convicted, we will hang ourselves. We are sitting with the ray of hope of justice; we haven’t done anything wrong that’s why we are sitting with the hope of justice,” he added.

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider a plea for a judicial probe into the case, and is likely to take up the case for hearing on Friday.

An apex court bench of Chief Justice S H Kapadia decided to consider the desirability of a judicial investigation into the incident, as senior counsel Harish Salve, during the hearing of another plea linked to the issue of police reform, mentioned the incident, seeking an independent probe into it.

Harish Salve has been asked by the court to file a formal application before Friday when it would examine it.

During the hearing of a plea for expeditious implementation of September 2006 directions of the apex court on police reform, Salve mentioned the incident involving the BSP MLA and sought an inquiry by the Allahabad District Judge or by someone from “”"outside the area”"”.

Earlier on Friday, the 17-year-old girl stood by her allegations and claimed that Dwivedi raped her at his residence, along with three of his supporters.

She had also given a similar statement to a three-member team of National Commission of Women (NCW).

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 last Thursday.

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