BJP legislator, husband booked for maid’s death in Madhya Pradesh

BHOPAL - Asha Rani, a legislator of the ruling-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh, has been booked for abetting the suicide of her domestic help in 2007, while a case has also been registered against her husband Ashok Vir Vikram Singh for abduction and rape of the maid, police said Sunday.

“The fresh FIR (first information report) was registered in connection with the suicide of their domestic help. The victim, Tijji Bai, who had sustained serious burn injuries was found dead at the Bhopal residence of the leader in November 2007,” a senior police officer told IANS.

Ashok Vir Vikram Singh alias Bhaiya Raja, a former legislator who is already in judicial custody for allegedly killing his kin Vasundhara Bundela, is accused of abducting the maidservant, keeping her as a bonded labourer and sexually abusing her.

Asha Rani, who is a legislator from Bijawar, is a co-accused in the case and has been booked for abetment to suicide.

The police had earlier closed the investigation deeming it merely a suicide case.

Bhaiya Raja was arrested last month for allegedly murdering his 21-year-old grand-niece Vasundhara Bundela, alias Nishi, whose bullet-riddled body was found in the city’s Misrod area on Dec 11 last year.

Nishi, a student, was staying in a girls’ hostel and was subjected to sexual exploitation. She underwent an abortion in Indore before being shot dead. Nishi’s father Mrigendra Singh had accused Bhaiya Raja of eyeing his daughter.

“Bhaiya Raja is notorious for his character and even looked at his grand niece Vasundhara with lust,” Vasundhara’s parents had told police. They said that this was the main reason they had sent their daughter away from Chhattarpur to Bhopal.