Ahmedabad
The case was registered against the former BJP MLA from Abdasa constituency on a complaint by a 21-year-old woman last Thursday. The accused is in hiding since
Updated : Jul 27, 2018, 06:05 AM IST
The Surat police, which registered a rape case against former BJP MLA Jayanti Bhanushali last week, issued a second summons against the politician today as he failed to respond to the first one.
The case was registered against the former BJP MLA from Abdasa constituency on a complaint by a 21-year-old woman last Thursday. The accused is in hiding since.
Surat's commissioner of police Satish Sharma said that the second summons was issued against Bhanushali today in view of his failure to respond to the first summons which was issued on July 23.
"We are trying to locate Jayanti Bhanushali. Investigation in the case is going on," Sharma said. The development comes a day after DCP Leena Patil, who was investigating the rape case, was transferred as Panchmahals SP. She was among the 66 IPS and SPS officials shifted on Tuesday.
The Surat top cop said that a new investigating officer would be appointed soon in view of the transfer.
Surat police officials said that the second summons, asking Bhanushali to appear before police, had been sent to his residence in Ahm-edabad. He said that the purpos-e was to record his statement and to subject him to a medical examination as a part of investigation in the case.
In her complaint, the victim had alleged that the former MLA had raped her on many occasions by promising to get her admission into a fashion designing institute. Bhanushali had also made video tapes of the sexual acts, which went viral on Sunday.
Even as Bhanushali went into hiding, the former husband of the accused appeared before media two days ago and accused her of being a gold digger. He also alleged that his former wife had relations with several men. However, the rape victim denied the charges. Bhanushali was elected to the assembly from Abdasa seat in 2007, before losing to Congress candidate in 2012, who later on joined the BJP.
The case was registered against the former BJP MLA from Abdasa constituency on a complaint by a 21-year-old woman last Thursday. The accused is in hiding since.
(With PTI inputs)