Arguments over rape charge against BSP MP from Feb 18

A court here fixed Feb 18 for hearing arguments on charges in a rape case against Bahujan Samaj Party MP Dhananjay Singh.

"Put up this case for argument Feb 18," said Additional Sessions Judge Sarita Birbal.

Delhi Police Jan 31 filed a charge sheet in a court here against Dhananjay Singh for allegedly repeatedly raping a 42-year-old married railway employee for nearly four years.

Dhananjay, the SBP's Lok Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur constituency, was charged under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including Sections 376 (rape), 377 (unnatural offence), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation).

Police said Dhananjay repeatedly raped the woman between July 2005 and March 2009.

According to the complaint filed by the woman, she was allegedly raped several times by Dhananjay at gunpoint and was threatened with dire consequences if she reported the matter, police said.

Police said the husband of the woman was a businessman and known to Dhananjay and through him, she first met the parliamentarian in February 2005.

Dhananjay and his wife Jagriti, a dental surgeon at a government hospital, are in jail after they were arrested in November last year in connection with their maid's torture and murder case.