Indian politician in Narendra Modi’s party ‘raped girl, 16’ – but police ‘only acted after her dad was beaten to death in custody and she threatened to burn herself’
Police had refused to take action when the victim’s family reported the rape. Her father, who kept pursuing her case, was detained by police and severely beaten. He later died from his injuries
A politician from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party was charged on Wednesday with raping a teenager whose plight was ignored by police until she tried to set herself on fire, embarrassing the government amid a spate of sexual violence that has stirred protests throughout the country.
The Central Bureau of Investigation charged Kuldeep Singh Sengar with the 2017 rape of a 16-year-old girl whose father was later beaten in custody allegedly by Sengar’s brother and later died.
The veteran lawmaker’s case has strong political overtones with critics accusing Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh state of hindering judicial action against the veteran parliamentarian.
The sense of impunity enjoyed by Sengar, a powerful BJP state lawmaker, and his brother has sparked revulsion across India.
Sengar, who like his brother was not charged until the crime made national headlines, had smiled and bragged on television that he and his family would be proven innocent.