Gurugram: Haryana Energy and Transport Minister Anil Vij has stirred the political waters by urging BJP state president Mohan Lal Badoli to resign until being cleared of rape allegations, currently under investigation by Himachal Pradesh Police.
On Saturday, Vij, while speaking to the media during an event at his home constituency, Ambala Cantonment, said, “Until the Himachal Pradesh Police clears him of charges or concludes the investigation, he should resign from his position to uphold the sanctity of the party.”
Badoli, along with Haryanvi singer Rocky Mittal, is facing charges of raping a Delhi woman in a hotel in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, back in 2023. Vij called for the BJP state president’s resignation days after he called the charges against Badoli “very serious”.
Speaking to ThePrint over a call later on Saturday, Vij expressed confidence that the police investigation will prove Badoli’s innocence. He added that while Badoli claimed innocence, a witness has also declared his innocence.
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His statements come amid protests across Haryana, with opposition parties and social organisations demanding swift action in the high-profile case. On Saturday, the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) and other social organisations held a demonstration at Mansarovar Park in Rohtak.
The activists expressed deep anger that the police have so far not arrested Badoli and Mittal despite an FIR against them under gang rape charges.
Jagmati Sangwan, vice president of the AIDWA, said there was widespread outrage over the incident and the failure of the police to arrest the accused, giving them the chance to influence witnesses.
A similar protest took place at Thakur Bir Singh Park in Bhiwani.
The protesters at Mansarovar Park demanded an inquiry by a sitting judge of either the Punjab and Haryana High Court or the Himachal High Court.
Meanwhile, the controversy has delayed further proceedings in the BJP’s internal election process. A meeting scheduled for Sunday in Gurgaon, following the mandal-level president election, was cancelled. A party leader, however, told The Print the postponement was for some other reason, assuring of the announcement of a fresh date soon.
Himachal Police registered the gang rape case on 13 December last year. A copy of the FIR surfaced on 14 January this year. On 16 January this year, a friend of the complainant appeared before the media, denying the gang rape and stating that she never met Badoli. She said she only met Rocky Mittal at the hotel.
According to the FIR, the complainant stated in her report that she lived with a friend and had worked for two years at businessman Amit’s office in Netaji Subhash Place, Sonepat. On 3 July 2023, she visited Kasauli, Solan district, with her friend and Amit. They checked into Hotel HPTDC Rose Common around 5 pm.
That evening, while exploring the area at 7 pm, they met two men who had also been staying at the hotel. The men introduced themselves as Mohan Lal Baroli, a politician, and Rocky Mittal alias Jaybhagwan, a singer. A conversation ensued, leading the men to invite the women to their room.
Jaybhagwan promised her a role in his album, while Baroli assured her of a government job, boasting of his high-level connections. They offered alcohol, which the complainant and her friend refused. Despite their refusal, the men coerced them into drinking. The complainant alleged that after consuming alcohol, the men molested her, and when she resisted, they threatened her friend into silence.
The complainant claimed the men threatened her with dire consequences if she did not comply. Subsequently, both men allegedly took turns assaulting her, capturing obscene photos and videos to intimidate her further. They warned her against reporting the incident, stating they could make her disappear.
Both Badoli and Mittal have refuted the allegations against them.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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