Three days after alleged assault, a man and his mother-in-law succumbed to their injuries. (File Photo)AGRA police on Tuesday evening lodged an FIR against BJP MLA Chotte Lal Verma and his son for allegedly harassing a woman. The MLA’s son, Laxmi Kant Verma, has also been booked for raping the woman, who claimed that he “married” her in a temple and subsequently forced her to abort three times for want of a male child.
Circle Officer (Agra) Archana Singh said that while the MLA’s son has been booked for rape, the MLA has not been accused of rape or sexual harassment.
No one has been arrested in the case so far, Singh said, adding it is a “matrimonial dispute”.
According to police, the woman complainant, who is in her mid-30s, stated in her complaint that she was a friend of Chotte Lal’s daughter and used to visit his residence in Agra.
In 2003, the woman came in contact with her brother, Laxmi Kant. “In 2003, Laxmi Kant allegedly called her at his residence when he was alone. He allegedly gave her spiked juice and she fell unconscious after drinking it. The woman claims Laxmi Kant raped her. When she gained consciousness, Laxmi Kant threatened her to kill her brother if she told anyone about it. He also allegedly promised the woman that he would marry her,” said a police officer.
The woman claimed that Laxmi Kant took objectionable photographs of her. “Fearing social stigma, the woman said she did not tell anyone. A few years later, the woman claimed, Laxmi Kant married her at a temple. In 2006, when the woman went to Jalandhar, Chotte Lal got his son married to another girl,” the police officer.
“She was given a house to stay in. Laxmi Kant used to visit and sexually assault her. The woman gave birth to a baby girl in 2011. Laxmi Kant and Chotte Lal, however, wanted a male child… Laxmi Kant forced her to abort three times for want of a male child. Since she failed to give another male child, Laxmi Kant started harassing and threatening her,” the officer said quoting the woman’s complaint.
Chotte Lal Verma, who represents Fatehabad seat in Agra, could not be contacted as his phone was switched off.