Panchayat member accuses ex-minister of sexual harassment
ALIGARH: District panchayat chairman Upendra Singh Neetu and senior BJP leader and former UP minister Jaiveer Singh were booked under various sections of the IPC and the SC/ST Act here on Wednesday for allegedly misbehaving with a Dalit woman panchayat member. The victim woman also accused them of sexual harassment, assault and threatening to kill her.
An FIR was lodged at the Civil Lines police station. Javed Khan, inspector Civil Lines said, “The accused have been booked under IPC sections 395 (dacoity), 354 (intent to outrage modesty), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (breach of the peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) on the basis of her complaint.”
Reportedly, the matter relates to a panchayat board meeting held on April 7 under the chairmanship of Upendra Singh Neetu. It is alleged, members of the opposition expressed anger over passing of the budget without their presence and this issue snowballed into clash between two groups. The panchayat members allegedly threw chairs at each other during which the victim woman and one Ravendra Singh got injured.
On the complaint of Ravendra Singh, police registered FIR against the victim’s husband and four others on April 8.
On Wednesday, the police registered another FIR against district panchayat chairman Upendra Singh Neetu, former UP minister Jaiveer Singh, and around 15 unidentified people on the basis of complaint lodged by the woman panchayat member.
In this connection, Upendra Singh Neetu said that police have registered FIR without any investigation and verification.
However, investigating officer and CO (III) Sanjiv Dixit said, “The FIRs have been registered on the basis of written complaints. Video footage has been included in the investigations.”
Commenting over the issue, senior BJP leader Jaiveer Singh said, “Though I was not present in the board meeting, police have registered case against me. Some people are conspiring to damage my political image.”
BJP Charra MLA Ravendra Pal Singh said, “Former minister Jaiveer Singh was not present in the meeting. Registration of FIR against him is a conspiracy. It is misuse of SC/ST Act. The state government will be made aware of it.”
Meanwhile, SSP Rajesh Pande said, “The second FIR was registered after probe. It is true that in CCTV footage, former minister Jaiveer Singh was not present in the meeting but he was present on the campus. Further action will be taken only on the basis of facts. Police have not received any complaint from district panchayat officer.”
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The second FIR was registered after probe. It is true that in CCTV footage, former minister Jaiveer Singh was not present in the meeting but he was present on the campus. Further action will be taken only on the basis of facts
RAJESH PANDEY, SSP