Lucknow: BSP MLA Purshottam Dwivedi, accused of raping a minor dalit girl, was arrested in Banda.
Dwivedi had got the girl arrested on a charge of theft after she lodged the rape complaint last month.
He was suspended by the BSP only on Tuesday.
Earlier, two of his aides were arrested in connection with the case, officials said.
“Rajendra Shukla and Surendra Neta, who are co-accused in the rape case of the minor girl were arrested in Banda district yesterday after an FIR was filed against them,” they said.
A case of rape was registered against the BSP MLA from Naraini seat and his three aides and orders were issued for their arrest in connection with the alleged criminal assault on a teenaged dalit girl.
Soon after the state CB-CID submitted its preliminary report in the case, the Mayawati-led BSP government ordered registration of an FIR against the ruling party MLA and his three associates.
“On the directive of the Chief Minister, a case of rape has been registered against the MLA and his three aides,” cabinet secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh had said on Wednesday.
Mayawati had also issued orders for immediate arrest of the legislator and three others, he had told reporters here.
The action followed soon after the CB-CID submitted its preliminary report which found Dwiwedi and his three aides prima facie guilty, Singh said.
The cabinet secretary, however, said the theft charge on which, the 17-year-old girl belonging to the backward community, was arrested was found to be true.
“But we are not giving clean chit to anyone including the policemen. Stern action will be taken against all those found guilty,” he said.