Home demolished after rape complaint, councillor is acquitted by Madhya Pradesh court 4 years later

Chitrendra Singh Solanki, First Additional Sessions Judge at Rajgarh district, observed that there are significant inconsistencies in the testimonies of the woman and her husband.

“The victim’s presence at the accused Shafiq Ansari’s house at the relevant time is itself doubtful. The claim of the accused establishing sexual relations with the victim is not corroborated by medical or scientific evidence. The victim has not provided any satisfactory reason for delaying informing her husband about the incident or for the delay in filing the report,” the court said in its judgement dated February 14.

The prosecution had claimed that on February 4, 2021, Ansari called the woman to his home under the pretext of offering help for her son’s wedding and raped her. His son and his brother were booked on charges of harbouring Ansari.

Before the rape allegations, municipal authorities had demolished the woman’s house over encroachment. Her neighbours had also complained against her, alleging that illegal trade of narcotic substances was “being conducted in that house.”

The court held that Ansari was a ward councillor, and the “municipality demolished her (the woman’s) house at the behest of Ansari and the residents of the locality.”

“This suggests that the victim filed the rape report against Shafiq Ansari due to the demolition of her house. Consequently, it is not proven that the accused, Shafiq Ansari, wrongfully restrained the victim, raped her, or threatened to kill her with the intent to cause terror,” the court said.

The woman had claimed that she did not tell anyone about the incident due to her son’s wedding.

The court said the FIR does not mention the woman’s allegation that Ansari “continuously intimidated or threatened the complainant from the time of the incident until the report was filed.”

“Despite there being a police station in the village… the victim did not file a report of the incident immediately after her son’s wedding. The victim has not provided any reason for not informing her husband and sons about the incident for 15 days after her son’s wedding. Thus, the victim has not provided any satisfactory explanation for reporting the incident with a delay of one month,” the court said.

The court said the distance between her and the incident spot was about 14-15 kilometres. “The victim did not clarify how she was present at the accused’s office on the night of the incident,” the court said.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Ansari said: “I was targeted because I raised my voice against illicit drug trafficking in my locality. The woman filed the false complaint against me out of revenge. I was not served any notice, and my home was demolished at 7 am in the morning. This was done by the police to mount pressure on me to surrender”.

Ansari said he would approach the appropriate forum to seek compensation for his demolished home.

“I am going to file an appeal against the demolition soon. I had to live at my brother’s home after I came out on bail. Now I have shifted to my ancestral home. My whole family suffered because of this case,” he said.