BJP MLA’s gunner, cook held for sexually harassing girl
Varanasi (Cantt) MLA Saurabh Srivastava was away at his relative’s place when the incident happened.
A gunner and cook of a BJP MLA in Uttar Pradesh were arrested on Friday for allegedly sexually harassing an 18-year-old girl at the MLA’s official residence in Lucknow’s posh Butler Palace colony the night before.
The duo sexually harassed the girl after calling her inside the room on the pretext of questioning her about her brother who was recently held in a theft case.
The girl was rescued by her mother and other class four employees of Butler Palace when she shouted for help.
The arrest was made after the girl’s mother reported the matter to MLA Saurabh Srivastava, who in turn called up the Hazratganj police station.
Srivastava, Varanasi (Cantt) MLA and residing in a house allocated to him by the government in Butler Palace colony, was away at his relative’s place on Gokhale Marg due to renovation of the government house.
His gunner, Manoj Tiwari and cook, Sohan Lal used to stay there in the night while the girl’s family stays in the garage area of the same house.
Hazratganj inspector Anand Shahi said initial probe suggested the duo sexually harassed her and even demanded money by threatening to send her brother to jail again.
The duo has been booked under IPC sections 354A (sexual harassment of the nature of unwelcome physical contact and advances or a demand or request for sexual favours,) 384 (extortion) and 504 (insult) .
Shahi said since the gunner is allotted to the MLA by the Varanasi police, they are being contacted for further action against the accused.