'Rape victim' retracts charges against Barnala junior

Chandigarh, Dec 15 (UNI) In a major turnaround in the high profile rape case against Akali Dal MLA Gaganjeet Singh, son of Tamil Nadu Governor Surjeet Singh Barnala, the alleged victim today retracted from her accusations in a lower court here.

The middle-aged woman, who was working as a masseuse at Mr Barnala's house told the court of Additional District and Session Judge Ravi Kumar that she had fallen from her cycle on August 12, and got injured.

When she reached her employer's house in a bleeding condition, they rushed her to the Government Hospital, said the Bengali woman, whose rape accusations against the Dhuri MLA had caused political ripples.

Claiming ignorance about the paper signed by her in which she had accused the legislator of brutally raping her in his house, the woman said she was made to sign the paper without being told of the contents.

When the prosecution countered that it had the whole episode video taped, the defence asked why it was not submitted with case diary in the first instance.

However, the court fixed January 29 as the next date of hearing in the case instructing the prosecution to produce all the evidence and witnesses in the case.

UNI DP-JN YA KN1958