The Hindu : National : BSP MLA held on charges of fraud, rape

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 30, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

BSP MLA held on charges of fraud, rape

Special Correspondent

LUCKNOW: Bahujan Samaj Party MLA from Dibai, Uttar Pradesh, Sri Bhagwan Sharma alias Guddu Pandit, was arrested on Sunday on charges of fraud, illegal confinement and rape of an Agra University research scholar Sheetal Birla.

Ms. Birla lodged an FIR at the Kasganj police station in Kanshi Ram Nagar district. She alleged that the MLA had threatened to kill her after she distanced herself from him.

Contrary to reports that the MLA was arrested from the New Delhi residence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, the ADG, Law and Order, Brij Lal told journalists here that the MLA was arrested by the Gautam Buddha Nagar police at the Sector 24 police station in Noida. He said the MLA, who was being brought to Kanshi Ram Nagar, was arrested under Sections 156, 420, 497, 342, 504, 323 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code.

The MLA has been given Z security by the Mayawati government.

Giving details of the FIR, the ADG said that Ms. Birla met the MLA at a marriage reception about two to three years ago after which they reportedly became close. Ms. Birla claimed that they got married at a temple about two years ago but she later came to know that Mr. Sharma was already married and had two children.

She alleged that she had been reduced to a mistress by the MLA. When Ms. Birla tried to keep away from him the MLA allegedly threatened to kill her. She alleged that the MLA raped and sexually exploited her.

Criminal cases

Mr. Lal said that earlier two criminal cases were filed against Ms. Birla and one Pramod Pathak, said to be her colleague, by Aditya Giri, a henchman of the MLA, in the Ahmedgarh and Ramghat police stations in May. The first case related to a land deal and the other to the theft of the MLA’s car.

Mr. Lal said that while Pramod Pathak was arrested at Shikohabad in Firozabad district on Saturday, the in-charge of the Ramghat police station, Mahesh Mishra, was suspended for his failure to verify whether the vehicle had been stolen or not.

Guddu Pandit is the third ruling party MLA along with Jamuna Prasad Nishad and Anand Sen Yadav to be arrested in the last one month.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National