Gujarat police on Thursday filed a case against BJP leader Jayanti Bhanushali, who resigned recently as the party’s State vice-president after a 21-year-old woman accused him of rape and sexual harassment.
The woman, a resident of Surat, had written to the police on July 10 seeking registration of rape case against Mr. Bhanushali, who was Abdasa MLA from 2007 to 2012.
On Thursday, the victim appeared before the police and recorded her statement. An FIR was subsequently lodged naming Mr. Bhanushali as a key accused.
In her complaint, the survivor said the former lawmaker raped her on several occasions from November last after promising to get her admitted to a reputed fashion design institute. The act was videographed by one of his assistants, she alleged.
Surat Police Commissioner Satish Sharma has asked a DCP to probe the case. Earlier, Mr. Sharma had said that the woman had failed to appear before the police despite being issued summons.
In his resignation letter, that was accepted by the State BJP president Jitu Vaghani, Mr. Bhanushali has denied all allegations.
