Raman Singh’s aide arrested for allegedly raping minor in Raipur

BJP distanced itself from OP Gupta and claimed that Raman Singh and the party is nothing to do with accused.

Updated on: Jan 10, 2020, 08:39:03 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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A personal assistant of former Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh was arrested on Thursday for allegedly raping a minor girl in Raipur, police said.

“The accused OP Gupta was booked under Section 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on Wednesday night and was arrested on Thursday,” Raipur Superintendent of Police Arif Sheikh said.

The SP further said that as per the complaint, Gupta, who has been associated with the former chief minister, was sexually abusing the victim from Rajnandgaon district for last four years.

“The girl, a student of Class 11th of government girls’ school recently shifted to school’s hostel,” said the SP.

ASP Raipur Praful Thakur said that since 2016 till December 2019, Gupta sexually assaulted the girl many times.

“The victim came in contact with an NGO, which has helped her to reach the police. We are conducting medical examination of Gupta and more investigation is going on,” said ASP.

Meanwhile, BJP distanced itself from OP Gupta and claimed that Raman Singh and the party is nothing to do with accused.

“He was neither the office bearer of BJP nor a party worker. BJP has nothing to do with the accused of rape,” said Gauri Shankar Srivas, BJP spokesperson in Chhattisgarh.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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