SP worker accuses minister of harassment

A Samajwadi Party worker has complained to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav that Minister of State for Stamps and Registration, Manoj Kumar Paras, has been harassing her family through police to broker a settlement in a gang rape case in which Paras is the main accused.

Kamla Saini is the former head of Nagina Vidhan Sabha unit of the party in Bijnore from where Paras is an MLA. Her husband Chandrapal Saini is a former secretary of the district unit of the party. A party worker of the area had levelled allegations of rape against Paras and a case was registered on court orders on January 15, 2007. The trial is still going on in a local court.

“We are still in the party but the minister is pressuring us to broker a settlement. We are not aware of the woman’s whereabouts, but the police come to our house at odd hours, telling us to settle the case,” Chandrapal said.

The couple has faxed complaints to the CM, State Women Commission, National Commission for Women, Lokayukta, DGP and also Leelawati Kushwaha who heads the women’s wing of the SP.

Chandrapal said they knew the woman who had lodged the complaint against Paras. “She lived in our locality and was an SP worker. But now she does not live in our locality and we are not aware of her whereabouts,” Chandrapal said.

He said his son’s marriage is scheduled for February 12, but the police are not allowing him to make preparations

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