Ahead of Aurangabad civic polls, a sexual assault case turns political

@the_news_21

Mumbai: Ahead of the ensuing elections to Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), apart from the generated controversy over renaming the city, a complaint of alleged sexual assault has now turned political.

Senior Shiv Sena leader and Deputy Chairman of Maharashtra Legislative Council Dr Neelam Gorhe sought to defend the government arguing that because of the incorrect address given by the victim the accused could not be traced. She urged the victim to come forward and register a complaint.

On the other hand, state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vice president Chitra Wagh alleged that the police do not have the daring to arrest the accused in the case as accused in the case is the state president of the Nationalist Youth Congress, who is accused in the rape case in Aurangabad who is getting protection from the authorities.

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, Dr Neelam Gorhe has argued that the young victim has given incorrect address of the accused due to which the accused cannot be traced. She added that the case dates back to November 2020 wherein the victim has lodged a complaint against one Mehboob Sheikh.

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Doctor Gorhe urged the victim to either contact Superintendent of Rural Police Mokshada Patil who is a senior police officer or the Divisional Commissioner Sunil Kendrekar. If the victim is finding it difficult to meet the two officers, then she could approach Shiv Sena leader from Aurangabad Renukadas Raju Vaidya who is camping in the city. She further added that the victim needs to contact the above people rather than just talking to various news channels.

State BJP vice-president Chitra Wagh on Tuesday claimed that the victim has gone missing since morning. Earlier speaking to newspersons here, she demanded the immediate arrest of accused Mehboob Sheikh and immediate dismissal of Deputy Commissioner of Police Deepak Gire for delay in investigating the case.

Chitra Wagh said that it has been seen from time to time that the perpetrators of atrocities against women in the state have no fear of the law. This is again confirmed by the rape incident in Aurangabad. Mehboob Sheikh, the accused in the case, is the state president of the NCP’s youth wing and has not been arrested despite being charged under Section 376. According to the law, when a case is filed under Section 376, the accused is immediately arrested so that the life of the victim or her family is not endangered, no pressure is put on them and the evidence is not destroyed.