Court frames rape charges against BJP MLA, two others

A Delhi court has put on trial a BJP MLA from Haryana and two others for allegedly raping a woman in a hotel after giving her sedative-laced drink, saying a prima facie case has been made out against them.
The court framed charges against BJP legislator Umesh Aggarwal and Sandeep Luthra for alleged offences of rape, causing hurt by means of poison and criminal intimidation under provisions of the IPC.
Additional Sessions Judge Nivedita Anil Sharma also framed charges against one Rekha Suri, who was a friend of alleged victim and had taken her to a hotel in Faridabad, for alleged offences of abetment to rape. All the accused have denied the charges.

"It is prima facie clear from the record that accused Rekha abetted and facilitated the commission of offences of intoxication and rape against the prosecutrix by bringing her to (the) Hotel in Faridabad... Where accused Umesh Aggarwal administered intoxicated cold drink to the woman and committed rape upon her.
"Then she was raped by accused Sandeep Luthra and they also threatened the prosecutrix not to disclose the incident to anyone," the judge said.
"It is prima facie clear that both accused Sandeep Luthra and Umesh Aggarwal have intoxicated, raped and threatened the prosecutrix and accused Rekha has abetted the commission of intoxication and rape by accused Umesh Aggarwal and Sandeep Luthra," the court said.

With the three accused pleading not guilty and claiming trial, the court fixed October 1 for recording of evidence.

As per the police, the woman alleged that on January 5, at the insistence of her friend Rekha, both of them had gone to a hotel in Faridabad on January 3.
After sometime, Rekha left on the pretext of some work and later, Umesh came to meet Rekha and gave her a drink. After consuming it, she became unconscious, she alleged, adding that she was raped thereafter.
Next morning, Umesh called one Sandeep, who also raped the woman, the victim alleged in the complaint, adding that Sandeep later dropped her at Tilak Nagar in West Delhi.

During arguments on framing of charges, counsel for the three accused claimed they were innocent and were falsely implicated in the case.
They alleged that there was a monetary dispute between the woman and Rekha Suri, due to which false allegations were made by her against all the three.
The court has also issued notice to Director of Forensic Science Laboratory with directions to ensure that the exhibits of the case were examined expeditiously and the report submitted on October 1.