Mayawati, who heads the BSP, bedecked in silks and diamonds in readiness for the gala held on the occasion of her birthday, was reduced to an apologetic state due to the court order.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati was humbled on her 55th birthday on Saturday as the Allahabad high court passed a directive for the immediate release from jail of a minor girl who was allegedly gang-raped by a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) member of the legislative assembly (MLA) and his associates in December.
The government machinery had apparently tried to shield Purushottam Naresh Dwivedi, MLA from Naraini (Banda district), when the rape victim Sheelu Nishad had filed her complaint last month. In fact, she was jailed on a trumped-up charge of theft made by the MLA.
Mayawati, who heads the BSP, bedecked in silks and diamonds in readiness for the gala held on the occasion of her birthday, was reduced to an apologetic state due to the court order.
“Any official found guilty in this case will face strict action,” she said in a speech at her birthday party.
Uttar Pradesh cabinet secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh hurriedly issued a statement saying that the police crime branch-criminal investigating department (CB-CID) had submitted its final report and that the government had decided to order Sheelu’s release since the theft charge could not be proved.
He also informed that the sub-inspector in charge of the Attarrah police station in Banda, where the rape took place, had been suspended.
Just two days ago, the cabinet secretary had proclaimed before the media that the theft charge had been proved in a preliminary CB-CID inquiry.
Sources said the CB-CID’s final report was submitted in an unseemly hurry as soon as top bosses in the bureaucracy here got wind about a special bench being constituted by the Allahabad high court to hear the matter.
A bench comprising Justices Imtiyaz Murtaza and SC Agarwal took suo motu notice of newspaper reports on the case and ordered the girl’s release.
Even though Saturday is a holiday at the Allahabad high court, the bench was specially constituted for the purpose on Justice Murtaza’s initiative.
In its order, the bench noted that the theft charge being made against the victim by a person accused of raping her seemed to be fabricated.
The judges also took note of the fact that both the accused MLA and the rape victim were lodged in the same jail, even though the MLA had openly declared that he would take revenge for the rape charges.
The court ordered the girl’s unconditional release and also directed that she and her family be provided adequate security.
The matter will now be heard on Tuesday, when the officials concerned have been directed to be present the documents relating to the case.
The girl walked free from the Banda district jail, about 220 km from Lucknow, after an order for her release, issued by the district judge, was handed over to prison authorities.
The release order was issued two days ahead of the hearing on bail application of the girl in a Banda court. The girl was arrested on December 12 on charges of committing a theft at the MLA’s residence.
Meanwhile, earlier on Saturday, the chief minister inaugurated government schemes totalling Rs4,000 crore at an impressive programme to mark her 55th birthday. She dedicated the occasion to the poor and downtrodden. Later, in the evening, she flew to New Delhi to celebrate her birthday with her family.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}