NCP's Laxmanrao Dhobale booked for rape and criminal intimidation

Borivli police on Friday booked former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) minister Laxmanrao Dhobale for allegedly raping a 42-year-old Nalanda college employee. The case was registered by the police following a complaint made by the woman, stating that Dhobale allegedly raped her from the past two years.

According to Borivli police, the woman, employed with Nalanda college, registered a complaint stating that she was raped by the minister. Dhobale took obscene pictures of the woman after assaulting her, and even threatened that he would leak them, should she mention the incidents to anyone.

“We have registered a case against Dhobale after the woman approached the police station. We are currently investigating and are collecting evidence, on the basis of which, we will take a call on the arrest,” said deputy commissioner of police, (zone XI), Balsingh Rajput. He further added, “Dhobale and the woman have known each other for some time now, because Dhobale owns Sahu Sikshan Sanstha, which runs Nalanda college – where the woman is employed.”

Interestingly, a few days ago, the Borivli police registered a case against Nalanda Law College for allegedly duping around 58 students by terming their admission invalid after taking total of Rs16.06 lakh from them. “There is a case registered against the college and Borivli police is already investigating that case. Both, Dhobale and the woman are accused in that case and hence, we are investigating from all angles”, said DCP Rajput.

Borivli police have booked Dhobale under IPC sections 376 (rape), 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation).