BJP legislator's gunner, servant held for rape attempt

The police gunner and servant of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator were arrested here on Friday after a domestic help accused the two of molestation and attempted rape, police said.

The incident took place in the house (C-47) of BJP legislator from Cantonment assembly constituency of Varanasi, Saurabh Srivastava, at Butler Palace, one of the most posh addresses of Lucknow.

Many senior ministers, lawmakers, IAS and IPS officials reside here in government accommodations.

A senior official said the police have arrested the accused and are probing the matter.

The victim has also alleged that gunner Manoj Tiwari and servant Sohan Lal lured her into the MLA's house on the pretext of getting her work as a domestic help.

She was accompanied by her mother when she went inside the house, but the mother was asked to leave by the gunner.

They also told her that her brother Santosh was wanted by the police and they could save him if she shelled out Rs 10,000.

When told that she did not have that kind of money, the woman said they asked for sexual favours.

The woman, who has many nail scratches on her body, managed to escape when her mother waiting outside the house raised an alarm and people of the colony stepped out, the victim said.

She said that they were warned not to go to the police but the mother-daughter went to the nearest police outpost and lodged a complaint.

--IANS

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