Mayawati clears deck for arrest of rape accused MLA

Lucknow : The Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday cleared the decks for the arrest of her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) legislator Purshottam Dwivedi who allegedly raped a 17-year-old Dalit girl and put her in prison on theft charges.

“Dwivedi is being arrested for rape and assault in accordance with the CID report,” informed UP Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh.

He said the chief minister was of the firm stand that in law and order matter not even party MLAs or MPs will be spared.

He told a press conference that if any policeman is found involved, he will be prosecuted as well.

The CID report apparently found the theft charge fabricated.

Pushottam Narain Dwivedi was earlier suspended by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati.

She added that the legislator will be expelled from the party and imprisoned, if found guilty.

Dwivedi has been charged with the rape of a 17-year-old Dalit girl, an allegation vehemently denied by the MLA.

According to him, he had merely given shelter to the girl since her father, a party worker, was not able to support her.

The girl’s father has put forth the claim that she had been abducted by a boy and had approached Dwivedi to help him rescue her after being turned down by the police, reports said.

He said that after having her rescued, Dwivedi told him that the girl should stay at his residence for safety.

But on Dec 13, the girl purportedly called her father saying that she had escaped after being raped by the MLA and his men. Two days later the police arrested the girl on the charges of theft, filed by the MLA’s son.

A police official was quoted as saying that the girl has confessed to stealing Rs 7,000 in cash, apart from a phone and some clothes from the MLA’s house.

Seizing the opportunity, the Opposition Congress has called for a high-level judicial probe.