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Rajasthan MLA faces rape charge

The Rajasthan police's Crime Investigation Department is inquiring into allegations of rape, murder and dacoity against legislator Jeet Mal Khant.

Three criminal cases were registered against Khant, a Janata Dal-United legislator from Bagidora constituency in Banswara district, between November 4 and 12.

Khant's name figures in a case of gang rape, registered by a 25-year-old woman at the Garhi police station on November 11. The victim met mediapersons in Jaipur last week and reiterated her allegations against the MLA.

On November 12, Manana Lal registered a case of kidnapping and dacoity against Khant at the same station.

Khant's name also figures in a murder case registered at the Lohariya police station.

Both police stations are in Banswara district.

Early this week, a team of police officials headed by Superintendent of Police Bapu Lal Jain (CID-CB, Udaipur range) visited Thali Talai village in Banswara district, where the alleged gang rape occurred and recorded the victim's statement.

The team also visited Paloda village, where the alleged murder took place and questioned six accused, who are in police custody.

However, Khant claimed he has been falsely implicated by political opponents.

"On November 3, I had raised the issue of the rape of a 14-year-old student in Chandarwara school by a teacher, Laxman Malviya, in the state assembly. The teacher is the younger brother of Banswara district zilla pramukh Mahendra Malviya," he alleged.

On November 6, Home Minister Gulab Singh Shekhawat informed the House that the accused had been arrested and an inquiry was being conducted on the charge that the police had initially refused to register the rape case against the teacher, he added.

In retaliation, Mahendra Malviya and Additional Superintendent of Police Ratan Lal got the three cases registered against him, Khant claimed.

Khant said the woman, who has filed the rape case, was married to his nephew Shankar this June. She, however, refused to live with her husband, saying he was dark complexioned and hence was sent back to her parents's home two days after the wedding, he said, adding that she was being used against him.

Khant, who claimed he was not present in the vicinity of the site where the alleged gang rape occurred, has asked Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to hold an impartial inquiry.

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