Banda rape case: MLA did rape me, says Dalit girl

Banda (Uttar Pradesh), Jan 14 (ANI): The dalit girl, who has accused Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Purushottam Naresh Dwivedi of raping her at his residence told a court here on Friday that she stands by her allegations.

The 17-year-old girl belonging to the backward community claimed Dwivedi raped her at his residence, along with three of his supporters.

The girl was allegedly raped on December 10-11 at Dwivedi residence. She escaped from the MLA's house on December 12, when he allegedly attempted to rape her for the third time and was arrested same day on theft charges.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate of Banda has sent Dwivedi to 14 days of judicial custody.

The MLA, was on the run after orders for his arrest were issued, was taken into custody on Thursday.

The Mayawati Government had on Wednesday ordered the arrest of Dwivedi in the alleged rape case following which he had gone missing.

Mayawati had earlier summoned officials of the Crime Branch and Crime Investigation Department (CID), who are investigating this case.

"On the directive of the Chief Minister, a case of rape has been registered against the MLA and his three aides. Mayawati had also issued orders for immediate arrest of the legislator and three others. The action followed soon after the CB-CID submitted its preliminary report, which found Dwiwedi and his three associates guilty," State Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh told reporters.

The investigating officials that conducted the preliminary inquiry in the case found that Dwivedi had raped the teenager and framed her in a false theft case. (ANI)