Rape accused BSP MLA Purshottam Naresh Dwivedi arrested
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) legislator Purshottam Naresh Dwivedi, who allegedly raped a 17-year-old Dalit girl and put her in prison on theft charges, was arrested on Thursday, police said.
Banda police arrested Dwivedi after he appeared before a local court on Thursday. The arrest comes 31 days after the incident.
His two aides and co-accused in the case were arrested on Wednesday.
“Dwivedi was arrested today. Rajendra Shukla and Surendra Neta, co-accused in the rape case, were arrested in Banda district yesterday after an FIR was filed against them,” the police said on Thursday.
Another co-accused Ravan Garg is still absconding.
The Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday cleared the decks for the arrest of her BSP legislator.
“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.
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.
Every High Level Police Officials must be suspended right away for cover up this rape case including the MLA’s ” POLICE PIMPS ” in Jail who tried to bribe the girl to drop the charges. This Monsters are the blots on humanity and made the system ” MUJRAWALIS ” who dances on their greedy and corrupt tune. Is Mayawati running a ” BANDIT ” gang or Ministry? We salute the victim girl to stand against this Monsters to bring them down. Indian Govt must award ” PADMA BHUSHAN ” on her courage.