Police hunt for BJP legislator in Madhya Pradesh

BHOPAL - A hunt has been launched for Asha Rani, a legislator of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Bijawar in Madhya Pradesh, who has been booked for allegedly abetting the suicide of her domestic help in 2007.

Police officials said Monday they are also looking for six other suspects.

A case has also been registered against Asha Rani and her husband Ashok Vir Vikram Singh alias Bhaiya Raja, a former legislator, on the charge of abducting the maidservant, keeping her as a bonded labourer and sexually abusing her.

He is already in judicial custody 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 Dec 11 last year.

Nishi, a student, was staying in a girls’ hostel and was allegedly subjected to sexual exploitation. She underwent an abortion in Indore before being shot dead. Nishi’s father Mrigendra Singh has accused Bhaiya Raja in the case.

“The fresh FIR (first information report) was registered in connection with the suicide of their domestic help Saturday. 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.

Asha Rani and six other people including close confidantes and employees of the former legislator have been accused in the case and charged with sections ranging from abetment to abduction and assault. They are Kanhaiya Lal, Khwaja, Narmada Prasad, Bahori, Mizaji and Gopal.

A team has been sent to Chhatarpur in search of the co-accused while another team has been sent to arrest those who are from Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, and have reportedly run away to their native places or are hiding in other smaller towns in the region, a police official said.

So far nearly half-a-dozen people have been interrogated after the case was registered on Saturday. The police have also recorded the statements of the victim’s husband and brother who have alleged that she was subjected to sexual abuse for several years.