Family at centre of rape bid row is all-powerful in Uttar Pradesh town

At the white bungalows,Shahnawaz Rana,BSP MLA from Bijnor,is nowhere to be seen. His wife Intikhab Rana says he is busy in a business meeting. Intikhab is furious that her husband,suspended from the BSP after his cousins and security aides were arrested for allegedly attempting to rape two Delhi women returning from a holiday last week,has been dragged into the case.

“My husband is innocent. He was with me at the time of the incident. In fact,we didn’t even know about it until we heard the news on television the next day. This is political vendetta. If our gunners were involved,we cannot be held responsible for their personal conduct and activities,” Intikhab said.

Of the two securitymen arrested for the rape bid,one was deputed for Intikhab’s protection. She was recently elected chairperson of the Muzaffarnagar Zila Panchayat.

The family also owns the Shah Times which is circulated in Uttar Pradesh,Uttarakhand,even Delhi — the newspaper website says Shahnawaz Rana,born in 1976,is its Chief Editor. Rana’s own letterhead says that he is an advocate,member of the UP Bar Council and the UP Sunni Waqf Board.

“Our family business was divided five years ago and our enemies are taking advantage of this,” Intikhab said. Asked about the string of police cases against her husband,she replied: “All this is part of elections.”

Haji Kamaruzaman Rana,chairman of the Rana Group,called a press conference at the family home to announce “our family is innocent… if investigations prove otherwise,I will support the law.” He is the father of Shahzaib,one of Shahnawaz’s two cousins arrested for the rape bid.

Shahzaib and cousin Saddam are already in judicial custody. They were among seven persons against whom the two women deposed. Other included Dilshad,Shahnawaz’s driver,securitymen Jarar and Narender.

Following the arrests,Shahnawaz was suspended from the party by BSP chief Mayawati,a move that has not gone down well among his loyalists in Muzaffarnagar.

Supporters have been streaming to the Rana home,swearing allegiance and recalling how the family has helped them in times of need — from admissions in college to jobs in the family factories.

“The Rana family can do anything. I came here seeking a job in one of their industrial units. I was given one. This family has always helped us,” said one of the loyalists while others nodded in agreement.

This is not the first run-in that the Ranas have had with the law. During the 2004 Lok Sabha elections,Shahnawaz and his uncle Kadir Rana,elected BSP MP from Muzaffarnagar in 2009,were booked for leading a mob which damaged vehicles and blocked the highway after being denied permission to hold an election meeting.

Kadir Rana joined the BSP in 2009. Earlier,he was Rashtriya Lok Dal MLA from Morna constituency in Muzaffarnagar.

Such is their clout that Mayawati ordered withdrawal of cases against Shahnawaz and Kadir in what she said was “public interest”. But the trial courts rejected both applications. Shahnawaz challenged the trial court order and the matter is still pending in the High Court.

Police files have a string of charges against Shahnawaz. “There are seven criminal cases against Shahnawaz Rana,” Muzaffarnagar SSP Praveen Kumar said.

For now,it is the fallout of the latest case that has the Ranas somewhat worried. Mayawati has even instructed her party to ensure that Shahnawaz is not invited to any BSP meet. In the state where the party boss is also the Chief Minister,it is the sort of situation from which the Ranas would want to get out soonest.