The Central Bureau of Investigation has taken over the probe against the former Rajasthan Minister, Babulal Nagar, who was booked for allegedly raping a 35-year-old woman on September 11.
“We have initiated investigations on the basis of a first information report,” said a CBI spokesperson. The agency would soon summon him for questioning. The Rajasthan government had recommended a CBI probe into the case last month.
Accused of beating up, raping and threatening the victim, the 53-year-old former Dairy, Khadi and Rural Industries Minister had to resign days after the case was registered against him at the Sodala police station in Rajasthan. However, on the pretext of a pilgrimage to Shirdi, he evaded medical examination. Over a fortnight after the incident, he finally gave his consent for the test that was conducted on September 28.
The victim alleged that the Minister called her to his official residence in the Civil Lines area of Jaipur, promising to get her a job. He then raped her. Since Mr. Nagar was a sitting MLA, the case was transferred to the State Crime Branch-Crime Investigation Department. The CB-CID recorded the victim’s statement and sent her clothes for forensic examination.
Following allegations that the police were not probing the case diligently, a Jaipur court on October 3 pulled up the force for an unsatisfactory progress report.
