40-yr-old Beed woman alleges sexual assault, stripping; 3, including BJP MLC’s wife, booked

The incident took place on October 15 but the case was registered on Saturday after the video of the alleged incident went viral on social media. A video of the incident was also circulated.

Suresh Dhas has meanwhile claimed that fake charges have been foisted on his wife due to political pressure.

“It was me who asked the police to file a complaint after the woman was assaulted. My wife had nothing to do with what transpired. Truth will come out soon,” BJP MLC Suresh Dhas said.

Chief of Maharashtra State Commission for Women Rupali Chakankar has also intervened and directed the police to take action in the complaint.

On Sunday, Chakankar posted a message on X, “An incident has come to light in Beed where a woman was raped and stripped over a land dispute. As soon as I came to know about the incident, I inquired with SP of Beed over the phone. Over this very outrageous incident, a case has been registered against Raghu Pawar, Rahul Jagdale, Prajakta Suresh Dhas.”

“Police have been directed to take appropriate action. The commission will follow up till the woman gets justice,” she posted on X. However, Beed police claimed that when a team was sent to the spot the woman had then said she did not want to register an FIR.

It was further revealed that the land dispute being the complainant and the accused has been ongoing for the past decade.

However, she later lodged a complaint on the portal after which the police said they contacted her again. “She came to the police station on Friday to record her statement but she left on the pretext of some work,” said an officer.

However, on Saturday, the woman again came to the police station and a case was registered under relevant sections of sexual assault under IPC and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

“The case is being investigated by a Dy SP rank officer. No one has been arrested as yet because we are still verifying the facts of the incident,” said an officer.