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Chhattisgarh Congress MLA claims husband falsely booked for taking on sand mafia
The opposition BJP has termed the issue as ‘serious’ and claimed that the Congress government in Chhattisgarh has failed to ‘secure the dignity’ of the members of the House.
RAIPUR: An MLA of the ruling Congress in Chhattisgarh sought justice in the legislative assembly on Thursday alleging that her husband was falsely implicated by the state police for taking on the illegal sand mining mafia. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has termed the issue as “serious” and claimed that the government has failed to “secure the dignity” of the members of the House.
On December 8 last year, Congress MLA Chhanni Sahu’s husband, Chandu Sahu was booked under sections 294 (obscene acts) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as well as provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Chhuriya police on the complaint of a driver, Beersingh Uikey, who alleged that Chandu Sahu threatened and abused him claiming he was indulging in illegal sand mining, despite possessing a royalty permit for mineral transportation.
Chhanni Sahu, who represents Khujji constituency in Rajnandgaon district, refuted the allegations and said the case was filed by the driver at the behest of the sand mafia.
Raising questions on Chhattisgarh police during the Question Hour in the state assembly, the legislator claimed that she has returned her security cover after her husband’s arrest in February this year.
The MLA, in the assembly, asked the home minister “why and how” her husband was booked on charges of intimidation and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act on the basis of a “false complaint.”
“I am not aggrieved by the offence registered against my husband but I am pained as it was lodged based on a false complaint. In a serious case pertaining to the Atrocity Act, the offence was registered so hurriedly without a thorough investigation. Contrary to it, when I along with thousands of people of my constituency submitted evidence with all documents to police and administration, they failed to act on it for 3 months and are trying to save the culprits”, she said adding that those who were engaged in illegal transportation of sand were let off without investigation.
The MLA further said that if a ruling party woman MLA was not safe, imagine the plight of the common women in the state.
Commenting on the issue, former chief minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Raman Singh said that the issue is serious and the government has failed to ensure protection and secure the dignity of the members of the House.
Subsequently, Speaker Charand Das Mahant asked home minister Tamradhwaj Sahu to reinvestigate the case lodged against the MLA’s husband and also find out whether an appropriate enquiry was conducted before booking him under the Atrocity Act.
The Speaker also directed the home minister to provide double security cover to the woman MLA.
