Former NCP minister booked for rape, faces arrest

The Borivali police have registered a first information report (FIR) and will record Dhoble’s statement.

The NCP leader later told reporters he was being falsely implicated by the complainant who was facing a police investigation in a case of fraud and embezzlement. According to the complaint, Dhobale summoned her to his cabin in his Borivali office and raped her there. He is also alleged to have threatened her that he would make public some photographs he had of her.

The complainant said he also raped her a few more times after this blackmail began.

Police officers investigating the complaint said the victim was, however, not sure about the dates and specific details of the incidents. The woman has also alleged she was assaulted by Dhobale on several occasions.

“We have registered a case of rape, assault and criminal intimidation against Dhobale. We are verifying the facts before arresting him,” said Balsingh Rajput, deputy commissioner of police (Zone 11).

According to the police, both Dhobale and the woman clerk were among those being investigated in an alleged admission scam at the college a month ago. The college authorities had been accused of cheating 58 students who had registered online for seats and had paid their fees but were later reportedly denied admission to the institution.

The students paid fees ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 35,000. The total sum allegedly misappropriated is nearly Rs 75 lakh, said investigators.

While Dhobale was among the 22 who were initially implicated, during the course of the investigation, a case was also registered against the woman clerk.

Police said the main accused in the admission scam case remained the trustees, but four members of the clerical staff, including the complainant in the rape case, are also being investigated for their role.
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