Harak Singh’s ‘rape’ victim changes story

DEHRADUN: The woman who had filed a rape complaint against Uttarakhand BJP leader Harak Singh last week backtracked on Wednesday and claimed she made allegations

DEHRADUN: The woman who had filed a rape complaint against Uttarakhand BJP leader Harak Singh last week backtracked on Wednesday and claimed she made allegations as told by Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat’s staff.

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A regional TV channel aired the woman’s interview where she claimed that she gave a statement in front of the magistrate that she had made false allegations and Harak Singh is a “good human being”.

The same women had filed a criminal case against Rawat in 2003 during ND Tiwari’s regime, alleging that he fathered her child. However, as the controversy erupted, a DNA test of the child and Rawat was conducted but the result was negative.

“I wanted to reopen the (2003 case) therefore I reached out to CM Harish Rawat’s office on landline phone. One person identified as Rawat assured that they will reopen the case, but I will have to level rape allegations against Harak Singh and I agreed,” she was quoted as saying.

Earlier on Wednesday, she recorded her statement in the Saket court, where she confessed that she was “lying”. She also claimed she faced a “life threat”.

The chief minister, on his part, refuted allegations but the BJP demanded his resignation.