Sirohi Municipal Council chairman Mahendra Mevada has said that a case lodged against him by women, who were allegedly gang-raped on the pretext of jobs, was false.
Mevada and former Sirohi Municipal Council commissioner Mahendra Choudhary have been accused in the case of gang-rape of nearly 20 women under the guise of providing employment in Anganwadi centres.
Mevada said a similar complaint of rape was also filed in the past, which later turned out to be false during a police investigation. He alleged that the FIR was registered at the behest of a person.
On the other hand, Chaudhary said the case against him was false and asserted he did not know any women who approached him for a job. Chaudhary said that he retired in August 2022.
The incident came to light after a woman from Rajasthan’s Pali district approached the police, alleging that the accused had sexually assaulted her after luring her and approximately 20 other women with job opportunities.
The woman also claimed that the accused filmed the sexual assaults, later threatening to share the footage on social media and blackmailing the victims for money – demanding Rs 5 lakh each.
According to the complainant, she, along with other women, travelled to Sirohi several months ago to work in an Anganwadi centre. They encountered the accused, who provided them with accommodation and meals.
She further alleged that the food they were served contained sedatives, after consuming which they were subjected to sexual assault.
The Rajasthan High Court has ordered the case to be registered following a petition by eight women.
(with inputs from Rahul Tripathi)