The Opposition Congress here on Monday lodged a complaint with a local police station demanding arrest of a ruling BJP MLA for making public the identity of a rape victim by circulating photograph of her family members in the media, violating a directive by Supreme Court in this regard.
Raipur (rural) MLA Nand Kumar Sahu on Saturday circulated a press statement along with a photograph in which he was seen presenting a cheque of `50,000 to a rape victim’s mother at the latter’s residence at Urla on the outskirt of the capital city. The rape victim’s minor brother was also seen standing beside their mother. A local youth allegedly raped a five-year-old girl finding her alone in her house at Urla on December 16, 2012. Her mother found her writhing in pain when she returned home in the evening. Later, the police arrested the accused following a complaint by the alleged victim’s parents.
Twenty seven days after the gruesome incident, the local MLA Mr Sahu visited her home along with a dozen of his supporters to present the cheque towards compensation. The legislator’s reported bid to gain publicity by circulating the photograph along with a press statement apparently to demonstrate his generosity has invited criticism from several quarters in the state. Several women organisations have demanded action against him for making public the rape victim’s identity. “We have filed an FIR in Urla police station demanding the MLA’s arrest on charges of contempt of court for defying the apex court’s directive.”