RANCHI: The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Wednesday exchanged barbs after Ranchi police booked a close aide of BJP legislator Babulal Marandi for allegedly raping his domestic help at his home last year.
While Marandi said the case against his political advisor Sunil Tiwari was a result of political vendetta and demanded probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation, JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said the former chief minister should not deliver verdicts even before the police complete their probe.
A case has been filed against Tiwari at Argora police station in Ranchi on the complaint of a 20-year-old woman, who has accused him of rape, physical assault and threat to life, police said, adding that sections of SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act have also been invoked.
According to the FIR, the incident took place between March and September last year and the complaint was filed on August 16, 2021.
“I demand an independent probe in this case, be it by CBI or judicial probe headed by a High Court justice. We will also take up this issue with the Governor once he returns from New Delhi,” Marandi said.
Marandi alleged that Tiwari was framed as he became an intervener in a rape case against chief minister Hemant Soren. The case against Soren is likely to come up for hearing next week.
{{/usCountry}}Marandi alleged that Tiwari was framed as he became an intervener in a rape case against chief minister Hemant Soren. The case against Soren is likely to come up for hearing next week.
{{/usCountry}}“The case has a long background as it started in December 2020 when a girl filed a petition in the Bombay high court regarding her previous complaint of rape charges against the CM. Later, she posted a video on social media claiming she was facing life threat from me, Sunil Tiwari, Nishikant Dubey (BJP MP) and one other person from Mumbai whom I don’t know. That is when I had asked him (Sunil Tiwari) to become an intervener in that case and later also to file a writ petition in the Supreme Court, demanding CBI probe in that case,” Marandi told reporters on Wednesday.
The BJP legislator added that he had then written to the Maharashtra DGP and Mumbai police commissioner to conduct a probe and provide security to the woman.
Bhattacharya, however, said the rape allegation against Soren was fabricated and a defamation case has been filed with a lower court in Ranchi.
“Ever since he has joined back the BJP, he has been issuing certificates well before the police complete their investigation. It seems he has taken annular maintenance contract of defending wrong elements in the BJP. He is a former chief minister and has considerable influence. He should not create un necessary pressure on police when probe is still on, especially in cases related to tribal girls who are often exploited due to their vulnerability,” said Bhattacharya.
Tiwari said he was being framed by the Soren government as he has filed a writ petition against the chief minister.
“I have filed a writ petition in Supreme Court in the rape allegation against chief minister Hemant Soren by a Mumbai girl, seeking CBI investigation in the incident. The case is to come up for hearing on August 23. The case against me is a result of that. I had written to the chief secretary, home secretary, Ranchi police as well as government of India on June 19 itself seeking protection. I had clearly mentioned in the letter that I was getting threats from different quarters threatening not to pursue the case,” said Tiwari.