BJP leader from U'khand arrested for sexually abusing 14-year-old girl; disbarred

Bhagwat Singh Bora, block chief of Almora district, was arrested on Saturday night, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Devendra Pincha said, adding that a case was registered against him on Friday.

“We arrested him while he was on the run. We will bring him before the local court and request his remand,” Pincha said.

A first information report (FIR) was initially registered by the revenue officials, who handed over the case to the regular police on the directions of the district magistrate (DM) on Friday, the SSP said.

According to police, the incident occurred on August 24, but a report was not received until six days later, on August 30.

Bora has been charged under Section 74 (assault or use of criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, police said.

The minor's mother told police that her daughter had gone to a nearby forest with her brothers to herd goats when the BJP politician arrived there and harassed her daughter by luring her with chocolates.

“The allegations are of sexual harassment. In her statement before the court, doctors and the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), the woman has denied the allegations of rape. The medical examination of the girl has already been conducted,” the SSP said.

A sub-inspector is investigating the case, police said.

The BJP has since described the incident as regrettable and has taken tough measures to expel Bora from the party.

“We have expelled the accused from the party. Our government has a zero-tolerance policy towards crimes against women,” said BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt.

Bhatt said opposition leaders should refrain from making political statements and let the law take its course.

“Our government has taken strict action in similar cases that have come to light in the past,” he said.

The Uttarakhand Congress staged protests across the state on Saturday against “increasing” crime against women and the general “deterioration” of law and order.

State Congress spokesperson Garima Mehra Dasauni said, “They (BJP) cannot evade their responsibility by simply expelling the accused from the party. Rather, they have to ensure a safe environment for all girls and women in the state. The BJP has given the slogan 'Beti Bachao-Beti Bachao' but it is obvious that they are trying to save the accused if they belong to their party.”