Madhya Pradesh Congress MLA booked for rape, complainant claims to be his wife

In the complaint to the police, the woman alleged that Singhar had sexually exploited her on the pretext of marriage. “It was only after I threatened to lodge a complaint that he married me on April 16 at his Bhopal house. Two months after the marriage, his behaviour changed and he would beat me up… abused me often and even threatened to kill me,” the woman alleged in her complaint.

“It was at the police station that I learnt that a complaint had been filed against me by the wife of a former employee of Singhar,” she said.

Town Inspector of Naugaon police station, Chandra Bhan Chhadar, said, “An FIR was registered under sections 294 (obscene act), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 376 (2) (rape on promise of marriage), 377 (unnatural sex), 498 (A) (cruelty by husband) and 506 (criminal intimidation) in Jabalpur and then transferred to Dhar.”

Singhar was at one point in reckoning for the post of state Congress president. He is also a prominent tribal face of Congress in Madhya Pradesh.

Singhar released a video message to clarify his stand on the issue. “This is a personal matter.. what made her level such allegations, only she can answer better… I respect her but she had put me through mental harassment. I had given a complaint to the police but no action was taken. I believe in the judicial system of the country and will seek justice there,” he said.

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra attacked Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra over the case against Singhar, saying: “I have learnt from the media that the complainant is a Congress office-bearer. Priyanka ji you talk about the safety of women in the country when they are not safe in your own party. Your slogan of ‘ladki hu, lad sakti hu’ has died down in your own party!”