A case of rape was registered against BSP MLA Purshottam Naresh Dwiwedi and his three aides and orders were issued for their arrest in connection with the alleged criminal assault on a teenaged dalit girl in Uttar Pradesh's Banda district. Soon after the state CB-CID submitted its preliminary report in the case,the Mayawati-led BSP government ordered registeraton of an FIR against the ruling party MLA and his three associates. "On the directive of the Chief Minister,a case of rape has been registered against the MLA and his three aides," Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh said. Mayawati had also issued orders for immediate arrest of the legislator and three others,he told reporters here. The action followed soon after the CB-CID submitted its preliminary report which found Dwiwedi and his three associates guilty,Singh said. The arrests could take place anytime as police teams had been dispatched to Banda and other places,he said. The Cabinet Secretary,however,said the theft charge on which Sheelu Nishad,the 17-year-old girl belonging to the backward community,was arrested was found to be true. "But we are not giving clean chit to anyone including the policemen. Stern action will be taken against all those found guilty." Giving details,the Cabinet Secretary said the girl stayed at the residence of the MLA between December eight and ten last year. "Sheelu in her statement has said between December 11 and 12 the MLA and his three aides - Rajendra Shukla,Ravan Garg and Surendra Neta - had performed an indecent act with her," he said. "Immediately after the CB-CID submitted its report this evening,the Chief Minister ordered action in accordance with the law," the Cabinet Secretary said. He said the arrest of Sheelu on the theft charge was found to be correct. "Sheelu before fleeing from the house of the MLA on December 12 took a mobile phone of his daughter-in-law and Rs 5,000 in cash. She even made 150 calls from the phone," the top state government officer said. "The theft case was correct and the arrest justified," he said.
