Indore (Madhya Pradesh): In a dramatic turn of events, a rape victim slapped the husband of a village sarpanch, accused of raping her, in front of the police while he was being presented in court on Saturday. The woman confronted the accused, asking him why he ruined her life and expressed anger over the VIP treatment allegedly given to him.

On January 13, the woman had filed a rape complaint against the accused, 51-year-old BJP leader Lekhraj Dabi, at Simrol Police Station. She alleged that Dabi had lured her into a relationship with a false promise of marriage, even signing a live-in relationship agreement.

Over the course of two and a half years, he repeatedly exploited her and forced her to have an abortion when she became pregnant. On Saturday, the police brought the accused to court. Following the allegations, the BJP expelled Lekhraj Dabi from the party for six years.

The expulsion letter stated that his actions tarnished the party’s image and that he had previously been issued a show-cause notice, to which his response was unsatisfactory. As a result, disciplinary action was taken to revoke his primary membership.

The victim raised concerns over the accused being treated like a VIP, claiming he was brought to court in a private car. When the police escorted him to court, the victim confronted him, blocked the vehicle, and slapped him several times. She later alleged that the police failed to inform her about the court proceedings.

The woman claimed that the accused manipulated her into living with him for over two years, providing rented accommodations and taking her to his farmhouse in the village. However, when she became pregnant, he abandoned her in a rented house and disappeared. She also accused the accused’s family of giving her death threats and criticised the police for their alleged leniency with the accused.

SP (Rural) Hitika Vasal confirmed that the victim had filed a complaint at Simrol Police Station, accusing the sarpanch’s husband of rape. The police arrested the accused from the Simrol area and presented him before the court. The investigation into the case is ongoing. Further legal proceedings are awaited.