Maharashtra: FIR against 7 people named in molestation case of Union Minister’s daughter, one arrested

Jalgaon. A complaint was lodged with the police on Sunday regarding harassment of Union Minister Raksha Khadse’s daughter and some of her friends. After this, a person has been arrested. This incident took place during the Sant Muktai Yatra in Kothali village of Jalgaon on Friday night, regarding which an FIR was registered at Muktai Nagar police station on the complaint of Raksha Khadse. The Muktai Nagar police station officer said that 7 people are named in the FIR, out of which a person named Soham Mali has been arrested. He said that teams have been formed to catch the other accused.

The police officer said that a case has been registered against all seven for stalking and other crimes under the Indian Penal Code and Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act. She said provisions of the Information Technology Act have also been invoked as the accused tried to take pictures and make videos of the girls without permission. She said the security personnel accompanying the girls named seven people.

‘Photos were taken and videos were also made’
Earlier in the day, Union minister and BJP leader Raksha Khadse said, “I was in Gujarat. So my daughter called me to seek permission to attend the event. I asked her to accompany a guard and two-three personnel. My daughter and her friends were followed. They were pushed. Their photos were taken and videos were also made. When my personnel objected, the boys behaved inappropriately and a mob of 30-40 people gathered.”

Raksha Khadse said when she returned home this morning, her daughter told her that the same boys had misbehaved with her at the public event on February 24. She said, “This is unfortunate. If such incidents happen with the daughter of an MP or a Union minister, imagine what the common people have to endure. The minister said that some locals of Muktainagar told him that these boys harass girls while going to school. Khadse said, ‘I have spoken to the Chief Minister and the Deputy Superintendent of Police.’ He demanded that the culprits be arrested.

Strict action will be taken, said CM Fadnavis
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told reporters in Raigad, ‘The people who harassed Raksha Khadse’s daughter are from a political party. The local police have arrested some of them. A case has been registered in this regard. Strict action will be taken against them.’ Raksha Khadse’s father-in-law, former minister and NCP (SP) leader Eknath Khadse said, ‘The police have received many complaints against these boys earlier, but no effective action has been taken. These boys are vicious criminals.’ He claimed that crimes against women have increased in Maharashtra and the criminals have no fear of the police. Eknath Khadse said, ‘Girls do not come forward to lodge complaints. Parents want their daughters’ names not to be disclosed. We complained because we had no option left.’

The NCP (SP) leader said, ‘I have spoken to the Deputy Superintendent of Police and Inspector General of Police. When we first went to the police station, we were made to sit for 2 hours. The police asked us to reconsider the issue as it is related to girls. The youths have also assaulted the police. These people have political patronage.’ On this incident, State Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal claimed that the law and order in the state has collapsed under the Mahayuti government. He said, ‘The incident of Union Minister Khadse’s daughter being molested by goons and pushing the security guard is very worrying. This shows that women and girls are not safe in the state.’