Langah withdraws petition seeking transfer of trial

CHANDIGARH: Former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) minister Sucha Singh Langah on Friday withdrew a petition he had filed seeking transfer of rape trial against him outside Punjab on April 18.

His counsel JS Bedi said since witnesses’ examination is almost over in the trial court, the SAD leader decided to withdraw the petition.

Langah was booked in September last year for allegedly raping a Punjab Police woman constable. Langah, 61, a former MLA from Dera Baba Nanak segment in Gurdaspur, was booked on September 29 last year, 11 days ahead of the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll. He is out on bail.

The woman had accused Langah of repeatedly raping her since 2009 by using his influence as a senior leader of SAD, which later ousted him as she had submitted a CD with a 20-minute video showing Langah having sex, purportedly with her. She had also accused Langah of selling her properties using his political influence.

After absconding for days, Langah had surrendered in a Gurdaspur court on October 4, and charges were framed on February 14 under sections 376 (rape), 384 (extortion), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

Langah had claimed in the court that the case was registered just before the Gurdaspur bypoll and was a result of political rivalry.