BJP MLA from Bilsi, Harish Chandra Shakya, his two brothers, and 13 of his alleged associates have been booked for gangrape, fraud, and coercion among others on the direction of a special court in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh.
Acting on the court’s directive issued 10 days ago, police filed an FIR on Saturday and said they have launched an investigation into the matter and are collecting evidence. Shakya, who has not been arrested, has denied the allegations, and said he has full faith in the police investigation.
According to police, a villager had moved the special MP/MLA court alleging that Shakya and his associates had been pressuring his family to sell a land at a prime location in Badaun since 2022.
When the complainant’s grandfather and father refused, the MLA’s associates allegedly pressured them to meet the MLA, who forced them to sell the land at `80 lakh per bigha rate, totalling nearly `17 crore.
“However, under pressure, they settled for `16.50 crore. As per the agreement, 40 per cent of the amount was to be paid upfront, with the remainder due upon completion of the sale deed. The family received `1 lakh immediately, but no documentation was provided,” the complainant alleged.
After two days, the MLA’s associates allegedly started pressuring the complainant and his family to transfer the land.
When the family members of the complainant refused to proceed with the sale deed unless they were paid the full amount, two false criminal cases were allegedly filed against them, the police further said attributing the complainant.
The complainant further accused the MLA’s associates of coercing them into providing a thumb impression on documents valuing the land at only `4 crore.
The complainant alleged that his wife was sexually assaulted when she went to meet the MLA to settle the matter at his camp office on September 17.
The MLA has also been accused of implicating the complainant in false cases of murder and rape.
“The case has been filed on charges of gangrape, criminal intimidation, fraud and other charges. All the accused are residents of Badaun,” said the local SHO. When contacted, the first-time MLA said neither he nor his associates have any connection to the land deal as alleged by the complainant. He also claimed to have never met the complainant.
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