Purushottam Naresh Dwivedi

Purushottam Naresh Dwivedi is an Indian politician, currently in prison on rape charges. As a member of the Bahujan Samaj Party, he won the Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections, 2007 from Naraini in southern Uttar Pradesh, and he was elected an MLA. He was suspended from the party by the BSP chief Mayawati in January 2011.

In Dec 2010, he was charged with the rape of a seventeen-year-old girl from a Scheduled Caste. An initial inquiry by the state CID found the charges to be prima facie true,[1] and he was arrested on January 13, 2011.

Rape case, 2010

In November 2010, the victim named Neelu by the media (not her real name), of Majra Banantapurwa of Harnampur village in Panna District, was abducted and allegedly sold[2] to one Rajju from a neighbouring village. The village pradhan (head) and a constable were responsible for the abduction. The girl's father, Achhe Lal, eventually recovered her, and went to Purushottam Naresh, who is the local MLA, seeking redressal of their grievances. It was decided that the girl would stay in Purushottam's house, where she would have adequate protection. It appears that on December 10 and 11, Neelu was raped repeatedly by Purushottam and two of his bodyguards.[3]

Subsequently she managed to escape and lodged rape charges with the police. However, Purushottam levied theft charges against her and on Dec 15, the police arrested her. Her father Achchhe Lal was threatened but he went underground and approached the Gulabi Gang, a group of woman vigilantes in Banda.[4] This helped publicize the case.

After the matter was spotlighted in the media, the National Council of Women, as well as politicians from opposition parties, highlighted the case. The case was investigated by the CB-CID and a medical report of the victim confirmed violent sexual assault;[5] the CB-CID found the rape charges to be prima facie true.

Under pressure from colleagues in the BSP party, which claims to represent the backward castes, Chief Minister Mayawati suspended Naresh from the party on January 3.[5]

Purushottam was arrested on January 13. A few days later, after more than a month in jail, the girl was released on January 17, 2011. In August 2011, the Supreme Court of India, sent a notice to the state of Uttar Pradesh for arresting the girl in violation of the Juvenile Justice Act.[6]

In September 12, 2011, unhappy with the state's handling of the case, the Supreme Court of India ordered the investigations to be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation.[7]

Naresh's wife Aasha Dwivedi has sought to join the opposing Samajwadi Party to represent the constituency in the forthcoming elections.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Pervez Iqbal Siddiqui (Jan 12, 2011). "Inquiry finds rape charges against 'impotent' MLA hold". Times of India.
  2. ↑ "Banda rape case: Girl was sold for Rs 50,000 - The Times of India". The Times Of India. January 5, 2011.
  3. ↑ "I was raped twice, beaten up by MLA, aides in police station".
  4. ↑ "BSP MLA accused of raping minor gets victim jailed for theft". Times of India. Dec 30, 2010.
  5. 1 2 http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/maya-fires-mla-for-raping-a-dalit-girl/1/125388.html
  6. ↑ http://www.indianexpress.com/news/banda-rape-case-sc-gives-last-chance-to-up-govt-to-respond/841975/
  7. ↑ http://www.hindustantimes.com/SC-orders-CBI-probe-in-Banda-rape-case/Article1-744713.aspx
  8. ↑ http://www.indianexpress.com/news/jailed-bsp-mlas-wife-woos-sp-for-banda-seat/843336/
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