Woman wants to drop rape charge against BJP leader, Judge asks police to probe any duress

A 21-year-old woman who has accused former BJP MLA Jayanti Bhanushali of rape today told the Gujarat High Court that she will not object if the court decides to quash the FIR filed on her complaint as she had "settled the issue amicably" with the accused.

After taking her affidavit to this effect on record, Justice P P Bhatt asked the police to record her statement and also probe if she was being forced to drop the case.

The woman appeared in person before Justice Bhatt during the first hearing of Bhanushali's petition seeking quashing of the FIR.

When Justice Bhatt asked if she was stating so because of intimidation, the woman said she was under no pressure.

She had settled the issue amicably with the accused and did not want to pursue the matter, the woman said.

The court then adjourned the hearing to August 7.

When Bhanushali's lawyers requested the court to direct the police not to take any action against him till then, Justice Bhatt said such order was not necessary as the next date was not too far.

Bhanushali is yet to appear before the Surat police despite the police calling him for questioning.

His petition claimed that the case against him was false, and a gang led by one 'Manisha Goswami', who is now behind bars, concocted it.

Goswami had earlier tried to extort money from Sunil Bhanushali, his relative, but the latter approached the police and she was arrested, the petition said.

To take revenge, the gang was now targeting him, the BJP leader claimed.

The complainant had alleged in the FIR lodged with Surat police that Bhanushali raped her on several occasions between November 2017 and March after promising to secure admission for her in a reputed fashion design institute.

Bhanushali resigned as Gujarat BJP vice president last month after the FIR was lodged.