Day after joining SAD, Patti councillor booked for raping his sister-in-law

SAD ALLEGED THAT THE CASE WAS REGISTERED AT THE INSTANCE OF CONGRESS MLA

TARN TARAN: A day after joining the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in the presence of former food and civil supplies minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon in Patti, Congress’ councillor Ashwani Kumar was booked for raping his sister-in-law.

The 20-year-old complainant alleged that she was being raped by the councillor since May 15, 2020. When asked about delay in lodging the case, Patti DSP Kuljinder Singh said the victim had lodged her complaint on Friday morning following which the case was registered. He said: “The accused is absconding and raids are on to nab him,” he said.

Gurmukh Singh Ghulla, Kairon’s political adviser, alleged that the case was registered at the instance of Congress MLA Harminder Singh Gill.

On Thursday, four councillors of the Congress, including Kulwinder Singh Babba, had decided to support the Kairon family ahead of the forthcoming assembly polls. One of the four councillors—surjit Singh from ward number 12 – returned to the Congress fold hours later. On Thursday, Kairon supporters had alleged that those joined the family were being threatened to return by the Congress MLA.

Ashwani was booked on Friday under Sections 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the Patti city police station.

“I was married in Chuslewar village around two years ago. My husband is mentally challenged and his brother has been raping me since May 15, 2020. He had even been thrashing me for opposing his advances. Lately, Ashwani had also forced me to leave my husband’s house with my one-year-old daughter. I had told everything to my husband, but he didn’t react,” said the complainant.

Ashwani could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Meanwhile, Ghulla said: “There had been a dispute between Palwinder and her husband. Palwinder had deliberately implicated Aswani at the instance of the Congress MLA. We have also got information that one more councillors, who joined Kairon family, is being implicated in an old case under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC.”

Ashwani, a first-time councillor, was close associate of Gill till Thursday.

He said they will not tolerate this and will protest against the accesses of the Congress. MLA Gill’s mobile was switched off. The DSP said there was no political pressure and the action was taken on the victim’s written complaint.