: Assam Police have registered a case against Minister of State for Railways, Rajen Gohain, for allegedly raping and threatening a 24-year-old married woman in Nagaon district. Mr. Gohain has also filed complaints of blackmailing against the woman and her family.
Nagaon Deputy Superintendent of Police (headquarter) Sabita Das said the case was registered against Mr. Gohain on August 2 after receiving a complaint at Nagaon police station.
“We have registered the case. The investigation has already begun and we will proceed as per law,” she told PTI refusing to share any details of the case.
“The FIR was registered under IPC sections 417 (cheating), 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation). We are investigating and have already noted the lady’s statement,” he said adding the woman has refused medical examination.
“The complaint says that the alleged incident took place seven to eight months ago. Both Gohain and the woman knew each other for a long time and the Union minister used to visit her home,” the official said adding that Mr. Gohain had allegedly committed the crime at the woman’s home when her husband and other family members were not present.
Conspiracy, says minister
However, Mr. Gohain on Sunday said accusations and conspiracies are “plotted” against him whenever he is about to contest elections.
“Every time, I am about to contest (Lok Sabha) elections, such conspiracies are plotted against me. This happened in 2016 and 2011 as well. Now, again this has started. Investigation is underway. The truth will be revealed soon, Mr. Gohain, who represents Nagaon in the Lok Sabha, told reporters at his residence in New Delhi.
According to Sanjiv Goswami, Mr. Gohain's Officer on Special Duty (OSD), the minister has also filed complaints of blackmailing against the woman and her family members. Mr. Goswami also claimed the woman has withdrawn the case.
Asked about it, Nagaon police station officer-in-charge Ananta Das said the woman had pleaded to withdraw the case in the court but the “case still stands.. we will do our own investigation."
Congress demands removal of Gohain from the Union Cabinet
Congress leader Pawan Khera asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately remove Mr. Gohain from the Union Council of Ministers. “We demand from this government, from Prime Minister Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah to take immediate and strict action against rape accused Minister Rajen Gohain, the Minister of State for Railways,” the Congress spokesperson said on Saturday.
Mr. Khera also reminded the prime minister of the promise he had made before 2014 parliamentary elections about his commitment towards ensuring women safety in the country.
“Remove him from office. You cannot allow him to be in a position of power and influence the investigation. Please remove him if you meant anything that you promised before 2014,” he told reporters.
Mr. Khera accused the prime minister of “failing” the women of the country and questioned his silence on the rape charge against the union minister. “Again there is a rape FIR against the Cabinet colleague of yours - MoS for Railways Rajen Gohain. If you do not act now, you will loose the moral authority to stay in office even for a day. Please take action,” he said.
