Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sucha Singh Langah, who was booked for allegedly raping a woman since 2009, is yet to surrender before the court even though he had promised to do so on Saturday.
The Gurdaspur police on Friday lastfiled a case under Sections 376 (rape), 384 (extortion), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC against the former Minister, following a complaint by a woman, who alleged that the Akali leader had repeatedly raped her on several occasions since 2009.
Gurdaspur Superintendent of Police Jatinder Singh Mand told The Hindu that Mr. Langah had not yet surrendered. Investigation was under way and police teams were looking for the accused. The police said the victim had provided them a video of Mr. Langah allegedly raping her.
Political vendetta
Asserting that the allegation against him was a “classic case of political vendetta”, Mr. Langah had on Friday said that he has faith in judiciary and would surrender before the court on Saturday.
Following the FIR, Mr. Langah, a member of SAD’s core committee, resigned from all party posts. Later, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal accepted his resignation.
He also quit the membership of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
Mr. Langah hit out at the Congress party, alleging the case against him was a classic example of political vendetta perpetuated at the most political opportune moment when the byelection of the Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency is just round the corner.
“The political witchhunt has started with the announcement of Gurdaspur byelection. I, along with my party colleagues, have met Punjab Director General of Police in August and complained against police officials who had registered false cases against Akali workers and leaders. Since then the State machinery and particularly the district police is hell bent on framing me in false cases in order to please their political bosses,” he said in a statement.
“This episode shows the vendetta politics of unknown proportions that the Congress party believes in,” he added.
