The 17-year-old girl who was implicated in a theft case after she accused a ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) legislator from Banda of raping her, was released from jail Saturday, officials said.
UP chief minister Mayawati had earlier ordered the release of the minor dalit girl, saying that theft charges against her were slapped as part of an apparent “conspiracy”.
The Allahabad high court, on Saturday, also took suo moto cognisance of the case and ordered the release of the dalit girl. The HC also directed the state government to provide security to the victim’s family.
Ms Mayawati assured that her government would soon constitute a fast-track court for the teen rape case. She said that a CB-CID probe in the matter was underway and after receiving the report, the state government will take stern action against the policemen and others involved in harassing the girl.
“The charges of theft on the girl appear to be part of a conspiracy of the MLA to hide his misdeed (rape). No one will be allowed to take the law into his hand. Strict action will be initiated against all such offenders,” the chief minister said while addressing a function here to celebrate her 55th birthday.
It may be recalled that BSP MLA Purshottam Naresh Dwiwedi was accused of forcibly detaining and raping a minor dalit girl who he had charged with theft and sent to jail. Though the accused MLA was arrested on Thursday, the girl also continues to languish in the same jail on charges of theft.
Before entering the jail, the defiant MLA announced that he would soon take revenge on those who had implicated him in the case.