Rajasthan ex-minister seeks security for rape complainant

Former minister of state for dairy and rural industries Babu Lal Nagar, who sent his resignation letter to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Sep 20 after a case of rape was registered against him, has urged the chief minister to ensure that the woman was not harmed.

"The rape allegations are a conspiracy against me. It is possible that my enemies may harm her. The blame will be put on me. So I request you to ensure adequate security for the woman," Nagar said in a fresh letter.

He expressed fears that his enemies may even make the woman disappear.

"I will be blamed for this also," Nagar wrote in the letter, a copy of which was accessed by IANS.

The Congress-led state government Saturday recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the matter.

"The state government has recommended a CBI probe and the recommendation will be forwarded to the department of personnel and training in Delhi which will issue a notification," said a state home department official who did not want to be identified.

The Rajasthan Police was probing the case for the past six days.

A 35-year-old woman registered a first information report (FIR) against Nagar at the Sodala Police Station here Tuesday.

"The woman's statement was recorded before a magistrate under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Saturday," said a police officer.

Nagar earlier told reporters that he sent in his resignation letter to Gehlot's office so that police could conduct a free and fair probe.

He represents the Dudu constituency in Ajmer district in the state assembly.

A police officer said the woman had approached a court which directed police to register the FIR against the minister.