Woman who had accused SP MLA of rape found dead

A woman, who had accused Samajwadi Party MLA Arun Verma of raping her in 2013, was found dead near her house here, police said today, adding the ruling party leader has been booked on charges of murder.
The incident, that took place in the midst of Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, took a political colour since the MLA is seeking re-election even as Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said the case may be probed by any agency that the victim's family wants.
The body of the 22-year-old woman, who was missing since Saturday, was found yesterday near a primary school in Jaisinghpur in Sultanpur, police said today.

Police said the injury mark around her neck suggested prima facie that she was strangled to death. The body has been sent for postmortem to ascertain the cause of death.
The woman had alleged that the local MLA, who is seeking re-election on SP ticket from Sultanpur, and some others had gangraped her in September 2013.
At one stage, the woman had withdrawn her allegation and some local youths were chargesheeted. The trial in the case is still continuing.

Police is probing the death and going through call records of the woman.
An FIR has been registered in this regard against the MLA under section 302 IPC (murder) on complaint of victim's family, a senior officer said.

Commenting on the case, Verma said he was prepared to face any probe.
"It is a conspiracy against me, I am ready to face inquiry by any agency even CBI," he said.
Akhilesh, when asked to comment on the incident involving Verma who is considered close to him, said it was condemnable.
"This is not only unfortunate, but highly condemnable. The family should get justice. Government is ready to recommend a probe by any agency sought by the victim's family," he said in Badaun.
BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma alleged that the UP government was working to save the accused lawmaker.

"The murder of a woman after she accused the MLA of raping her is shameful.... The state government has been trying to save the accused," he told reporters here.