Chhattisgarh Home Minister’s nephew accused of rape

Shamodh Paikra, nephew of Chhattisgarh home minister Ramsewak Paikra, from Surajpur district about 350 km north of Raipur is alleged to have raped a woman on the pretext of marrying her. Police are further probing into the matter.

The complaint was lodged by a 21-year-old-woman who alleged that she was being raped by him since 2014 on the promise of marriage and claimed ‘she is now a mother of two-and-a-half year baby girl of Shamodh Paikra’. The woman used to study with the Home Minister’s nephew in 2014 when they became close.

Talking to ANI, the woman said, “We used to study together in 2014. He exploited me sexually and said that he’ll marry me, but didn’t. I got pregnant.”

Chhattisgarh: Woman was allegedly raped in Surajpur, says, 'We used to study together. He exploited me sexually & said that he'll marry me, but didn't. I got pregnant. He's Home Minister's nephew' SP G.Jaiswal says, 'we've registered an FIR & are investigating the case' (8.7.18) pic.twitter.com/x6xcX8UohW

— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2018

“We have registered an FIR against Shamodh. The probe is underway under the section 376 IPC (punishment for rape). The accused is yet to be arrested”, Surajpur superintendent of police. Girijashankar Jaiswal told the Express. Shamodh, 25, is a school teacher and the police hope he will cooperate with the investigation.

“We are keeping all options open in the investigation process including DNA fingerprinting test at later stage if the situation so demands”, the SP said and further informed that the complainant cited herself as a minor when she was sexually exploited on the alleged false promise of marrying her. She was then studying in a school four years ago. She got pregnant and was reportedly forced by Shamodh to undergo an abortion but the complainant decided otherwise and gave birth to a baby girl. She also asserted that after Shamodh refused to marry she had gone to the police earlier seeking justice but in vain as her plea resulted into no action.

“Shamodh has got married to another woman. Our inquiry in underway to ascertain the rape charges levelled by the women before we go ahead to arrest the accused”, the Surajpur SP averred. The home minister stated that the law will take its own course and the action would be initiated against whoever is found blameworthy.