Ten days after launching a probe into allegations of sexual harassment against former Forest Minister Sanjay Rathod, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by Yavatmal police gave him a clean chit after the woman in question reportedly told the team that she had done so. Haven’t done anything. allegation, and that the letter written in his name was not sent by him.
The Yavatmal police had received a letter on August 11, accusing Rathod of sexually assaulting the wife of a former teacher in a school run by her in return for reinstating her husband on the job.
Superintendent of Police Dilip Bhujbal had constituted the SIT under the leadership of Additional Superintendent of Police Khanderao Dharne on August 12 to investigate the allegation.
Bhujbal said, “The SIT conducted a thorough investigation in the last eight days and came to the conclusion that the allegations against Sanjay Rathod were not made by the woman in whose name we had received the letter of charge.” Indian Express.
He said, “Our team includes police inspectors from Ghatanji and Vadgaon, an officer from the cyber cell and women officers of our Bharosa cell, who met the woman in the presence of her father and husband and recorded her statement on camera. He told the SIT that he had not written the letter and that someone had done mischief by posting it using his name.
Bhujbal said, “Rathod had never demanded sexual relations with her for the restoration of her husband in the Ashram school run by Rathod’s organization Chhatrapati Kala Shikshan Krishi Krida Va Grameen Vikas Pratishthan in Shivpuri village of Ghatanji tehsil.”
The woman’s husband had resigned from the school in 2017. Bhujbal said, “The SIT was told that the man, who worked as an assistant teacher in the school, had resigned due to a court challenging his posting on a temporary post.”
The SP further said, ‘The woman said that she along with her father had met Rathod about five-six months ago and was pleading for her husband to be reinstated in school. But he clarified that Rathod did not have sex to fulfill his demand.
When asked whether the police would now investigate “who did the prank”, Bhujbal said, “We have already checked at Ghatanji post office. The SIT was told that two persons had come with the letter and the speed was not there.” It was registered for delivery by post. But the identity of the men could not be established.”
When asked if the post office has a CCTV camera, Bhujbal said, “Yes, it has one. However, it does not take the image from the place where the speed post letters are registered.”
After the allegations surfaced earlier this week, Rathod had denied having sex with anyone while addressing a press conference, saying the allegations were a conspiracy to end his political career.
Earlier in February, Rathod was embroiled in a controversy after the suicide of an aspiring model Pooja Chavan in Pune. Death was related to Rathod, after which Shiv Sena The leader had to resign from the state cabinet.
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