Churah MLA Dr Hans Raj, who had been booked in a sexual abuse case filed by a woman, has filed an anticipatory bail application in the District and Sessions Court, Chamba. The court has asked the state and the police to submit their reply on Tuesday before hearing the matter.
The three-term MLA and former Deputy Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, who has been avoiding the police, filed the bail plea through his lawyer. A case has been filed against him under Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The MLA has been missing since November 7, soon after the woman filed a complaint at the Women Police Station in Chamba. She alleged that the MLA exploited her since she was a minor.
A police team visited Dr. Hans Raj’s house on Saturday and served a notice through his family members, asking him to appear before investigators for questioning on Monday. However, he did not turn up.
Chamba Additional Superintendent of Police Hitesh Lakhanpal said several police teams had been sent to trace and arrest the MLA. Earlier this month, the woman went live on social media and made serious allegations of sexual abuse against him. She later filed a formal complaint with the police.
On August 9 last year, the same woman had accused the MLA of sending obscene messages and threatening her. She later withdrew the complaint, saying she acted under mental pressure and someone’s influence. In her latest statement, she claimed she was forced to withdraw the earlier complaint after being threatened by the MLA and his aides.
The woman’s father also alleged that the MLA’s aides abducted him and his daughter and forced her to change her statement. A separate case has been registered against the MLA’s personal secretary and another person based on the father’s complaint.
The case has triggered strong public and political reaction in Chamba. Former Churah MLA Surender Bhardwaj held a press conference seeking strict and fair action against Dr Hans Raj. The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, calling for a speedy and transparent investigation.
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