Woman says Himachal BJP MLA sent obscene messages, demanded nudes; backtracks after FIR lodged
In Facebook live, says she lodged complaint under 'mental stress and after being lured by someone', police says they will go ahead with probe
3 min read
BJP MLA Hans Raj from the Churah constituency. (Photo: Hans Raj/ Facebook)The Himachal Pradesh Police has booked BJP MLA Hans Raj for allegedly sending obscene messages to a woman, demanding nude photos and threatening her, an officer Monday said. The three-time MLA from Churah in Chamba district, Hans Raj was booked on the complaint of the 20-year-old woman, who is the daughter of a BJP worker, the officer said.
Though the FIR against the MLA, who is the vice-president of BJP’s state unit and is a former deputy speaker of Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, was registered at the Woman Police Station in Chamba on August 9, it came to fore on Monday after its copies were shared on the social media.
Hours later, the woman went live on Facebook saying that she had filed the complaint “under mental stress and after being lured by someone”. A senior police officer said that the woman recorded her statement under Section 164 of CrPC before a local magistrate. “In her statement, the woman said that she doesn’t want to pursue the matter. However, our investigation is on,” the officer said.
In her complaint, the woman alleged that Hans Raj sent her obscene messages, compelled her to meet him alone, and also demanded her nude photographs. The woman, who mentioned in her complaint that her father is a booth level leader of the BJP, claimed that she had two cellphones, one of which was destroyed by the MLA and his associates. Seeking protection for herself and her family, she said alleged that the MLA has been pressuring her to delete the chats and other messages from her phone.
MLA Hans Raj could not be reached for comments. While his cell phone was switched off, messages and calls to his WhatsApp number went unanswered.
Former chief minister and senior BJP leader Jai Ram Thakur termed the allegations as “serious issue”. “I will check all the facts and circumstances under which the FIR has been lodged. MLA Hans Raj called me and put his version. However, there is a need to see all the aspects,” said Thakur, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha.
A police officer, part of the investigating team said, the FIR was registered on August 9. “A probe was initiated immediately. A woman officer contacted the complainant to ascertain the date of the crime. The woman said that she will disclose the date when she records her statement. Prima facie, the offense was established, leading to the lodging of an FIR,” the officer said.
The FIR has been registered under Section 75 (making obscene remarks) and Section 351(2) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
On Monday, however, the woman went live on Facebook with her father by her side, “I had lodged a complaint against MLA Hans Raj on August 9. Upon it, police recorded my statement before a local magistrate on August 16. In my statement, I told that I had lodged a complaint against the MLA under mental stress and after being lured by someone. There are leaders of Congress and people in media spreading wrong facts about the entire incident. I want to urge with folded hands that people should not make all this an issue,” the woman said.
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