Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot on high rape cases: Mandatory FIRs, 56% charges false

The National Crime Records Bureau report, released on August 29, stated that Rajasthan reported 6,337 cases of rape in 2021, the highest in the country.

Speaking to reporters in Jaipur on Friday, Gehlot said: “Who perpetrates instances of rape? Does a foreigner do it? In the majority of the cases, the woman’s relatives are perpetrators, known people, people known to the family, relatives. (In) 56 per cent of the crimes against women, false figures come, false cases.”

He said the report clearly mentions that “rise in crime” and “increase in registration of crime by police” as different things and asked critics to base their points on facts.

On the BJP’s consistent accusation that the law and order machinery in Rajasthan had failed, Gehlot said that the opposition party was on the backfoot after seeing the welfare schemes and budget of his government.

“There are false cases. You will have to subtract them. If the case is genuine, show me even one case wherein the police have not taken immediate action, have not made arrests. If you don’t have trust in the Rajasthan police, we will give the case to the CBI, what difference does it make for us, but nobody has the right to defame Rajasthan without any reason,” said Gehlot.

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The Chief Minister cited the example of the case in Alwar district where a disabled girl was alleged to have been raped. He said the police investigation revealed later that there was no rape and that she had suffered injuries owing to an accident.

Ever since the NCRB released the crime figures for last year, the BJP has been targeting the Gehlot-led Congress government in the state, accusing it of failing to uphold the rule of law.