Raksha Khadse’s daughter harassed in Jalgaon; seven named in FIR, one held

Union Minister Raksha Khadse filed a police report on Sunday concerning the harassment of her daughter and several of her friends by a group of men during an event in Jalgaon district, Maharashtra. Following this complaint, one individual was apprehended. The First Information Report (FIR) was lodged at the Muktainagar police station regarding an incident that transpired at the Sant Muktai Yatra in Kothali village on Friday night.

The FIR names seven individuals, among whom one, identified as Soham Mali, has been arrested, according to a police official from Muktainagar. He further stated that teams have been established to apprehend the remaining suspects.

The seven individuals face charges of stalking and other offenses under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Additionally, provisions of the Information Technology Act have been applied due to their attempts to capture images and videos of the girls without consent, the official reported.

The bodyguards accompanying the girls identified the seven individuals, the police official noted.

Talking to reporters earlier in the day, the Union minister and BJP leader said, “I was in Gujarat, so my daughter called me to ask for permission to go. I asked her to take a guard and two to three staff members along. My daughter and her friends were followed and pushed, and their photos and videos were taken. When my staff objected, the boys resorted to unruly behaviour, and a mob of 30 to 40 people gathered.” Khadse said when she returned home this morning, her daughter told her that the same group had misbehaved with her on February 24 at a public event.

“It is unfortunate. If such things happen to an MP or Union minister’s daughter, imagine what common people have to go through,” she said.

Khadse said some locals in Muktainagar told her that this group harassed girls on their way to school.

“I have spoken to the chief minister and the deputy superintendent of police,” she said, demanding that the culprits be arrested.

Speaking to reporters in Raigad, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “Those who harassed Khadse’s daughter are from a political party. The local police have arrested some of them and registered a case. There will be strict action taken against them.” Raksha Khadse’s father-in-law, former minister and NCP (SP) leader Eknath Khadse said, “The police have already received several complaints against these youths in the past, but no effective steps were taken. These boys are hardened criminals.” He claimed that crimes against women have increased in Maharashtra, and criminals are not afraid of the police.