MLA booked for slapping physically challenged rape victim

Haryana Police have registered a case against opposition Indian National Lok Dal MLA from Loharu, Dharampal Obra and his wife Sheela for allegedly slapping and threatening a 30-year-old physically challenged rape victim and her husband.

The two have also been booked for allegedly using casteist remarks against the victim and her husband, who are Dalits and hail from Obra village in Bhiwani.

"We registered an FIR on Saturday against Obra's nephew Rajinder, who has been booked for raping the victim and making her video clips and threatening the couple.

"Dharampal Obra and his wife have been booked for slapping the victim, using casteist remarks and for threatening the couple," Bhiwani's Superintendent of Police, Simardeep Singh said.

In her complaint, the victim has alleged that between October 2011 and February 2012, Rajinder, also from Obra village, raped her when her husband was away to Rajasthan for few months and made a video clip and threatened to eliminate her if she disclosed the incident to anyone.

However, in February, when the victim's husband returned she narrated the incident to him.

The victim has alleged that the MLA stepped in to put pressure not to lodge complaint against Rajinder and along with his wife slapped them and hurled abuse.

Simardeep Singh told PTI that the victim had approached the police in May this year with her complaint, "but soon retracted her statement".

"Now, again she has lodged the complaint. We have registered the case against relevant sections of the IPC. The investigation is under progress. No arrests have so far been made as we are collecting evidence," Singh said.

Meanwhile, the 57-year-old first-time MLA, a retired school master, trashed the allegations against him as "baseless", saying there is "no truth in these".

"I am open to any investigation. There are some vested interests who are behind this to tarnish my image. I never slapped or threatened the woman or her husband," the MLA maintained.