Goa BJP defends leader booked in dowry harassment case

A day after state BJP vice president Anil Hoble, his son and wife were booked for alleged harassment for dowry and assaulting his daughter-in-law, the Goa unit of party on Thursday alleged that vested interests are trying to exploit a "purely domestic" affair for political reasons.

"The BJP strongly condemns the attitude of the vested elements and the opposition Congress who are trying to make capital out of a family matter to malign the name of the party and its vice president Anil Hoble, who is a reputed leader of 'bahujan samaj' (masses) with a number of years of dedicated social service to his credit," state BJP president Vinay Tendulkar said in a statement issued here on Thursday.

"...We condemn the efforts being made by some so-called, self-declared social activists and vested elements to politicise each and every event and drag the name of the BJP and malign the name of its senior party leaders," Tendulkar also said.

On Wednesday, the Goa Police Women's Cell booked Hoble, his wife and son for dowry-related harassment and assaulting his daughter in-law. They have been booked under sections 498(a) for dowry demand, 323 for causing hurt, 506(ii) for criminal intimidation and sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.

Hoble, who has denied the charges calling them "politically motivated", has also been accused of assaulting his daughter in-law.

Tendulkar however said the party was fully confident that police would conduct a "free and fair investigation" into the case, which the top BJP leader said was a "purely domestic family matter".

--IANS

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