UP minor rape: Mayawati orders CID probe
January 01, 2011 22:45 IST
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Saturday ordered a Criminal Investigation Department inquiry into the alleged rape of a minor girl by a ruling Bahujan Samaj Party member of Legislative Assembly and his supports in a village of Banda district, about 180 km from Lucknow.
The UP CM said, "The Crime Branch of the CID has been asked to take over the investigation into the Banda rape case. The investigating team has been asked to reach Banda by Sunday morning and start their work immediately."
Seventeen-year-old Sheelu Nishad, belonging to the Dalit community, has
accused BSP MLA Pushottam Narain Dwivedi and his supports of not only raping her but also using his political clout to falsely implicate the girl in a case of theft.
Dwivedi accused the girl of stealing a revolver and Rs 5000 from his house, for which she was currently lodged in the Banda jail.
Mayawati's decision to order a CID inquiry comes after UP Congress President Rita Bahuguna Joshi and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav criticised her of shielding criminals in her party.
Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow
