BJP whiffs sex scandal in ‘suicide’

Caught in the political crossfire is Phagi MLA Ashok Tanwar. ‘‘He was always seen around her,’’ alleges a belligerent BJP Mahila Morcha president Suman Sharma. ‘‘Ask anyone in Chaksu and they will tell you that. In fact, it is the people who first pointed fingers at Tanwar. And we got suspicious only because he didn’t come to pay his condolences on the death. And he is now desperately trying to frame the husband by instigating Rinku’s parents to file a dowry harassment case. We don’t buy that story and want Tanwar’s role to be probed.’’

In his defence, Tanwar says: ‘‘It was a fight between a husband and a wife. Where do I figure in the whole thing…I did speak to her often but that was because she was a ward councillor from my area. The BJP hasn’t been able to rake up an issue against me for the past four years and this is their feeble attempt to malign me.’’

Among the many theories being floated in Chaksu, the other one is about the strained relationship between Rinku and her husband Satyanarayan. Neighbours have allegedly told police that Satyanarayan was not happy about his wife’s relationship with Tanwar and the two often had heated arguments on the issue.

On Friday, the couple reportedly fought over the use of the telephone, after which Rinku went to her room and hung herself. But the BJP is not willing to let Tanwar off the hook. ‘‘We want his cellphone seized and all call records checked. We are not going to let the Ashok Gehlot government to brush this murder under the carpet. They have already tried to sideline the murder of Home Minister Gulab Singh Shektawat’s servant. How long will Gehlot protect his men?’’

Allegations of blackmail are also surfacing and protesting mahila morcha activists are raising questions about the safety of women in politics. Police have so far not found any suicide note and the investigations are being handled by sub-divisional magistrate S.P. Singh who remained non-committal on the issue stating that all aspects would be probed.