In a significant development in Satna district, the husband of a local BJP corporator has been sent to judicial custody following serious allegations of molestation and issuing death threats. The case, which has sparked political and administrative discussions, saw swift police action after a video of the accused threatening the survivor went viral on social media.
Arrest and Court Proceedings
Ashok Singh, the spouse of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporator from the Rampur Baghelan civic body, was produced before a court on Sunday, which subsequently ordered his remand to jail. His arrest was executed late on Saturday night by the Rampur Baghelan police. The arrest followed a complaint filed by the survivor, who had initially alleged rape at knife-point in her statement at the Superintendent of Police (SP) office in Satna.
However, during the formal recording of her statement at the Rampur Baghelan police station on Saturday night, the survivor retracted the rape allegation. Police officials stated that she admitted to making the claim of rape under duress, fear, and pressure. Despite this retraction, the police investigation substantiated other grave charges.
Confirmed Charges and Viral Evidence
The probe confirmed that the accused, Ashok Singh, made obscene gestures, molested the woman, and issued explicit death threats to her. A critical piece of evidence that amplified the case was a video clip that circulated widely on social media platforms. In the viral video, Singh is seen and heard threatening the survivor and using abusive language against the in-charge of the local police station.
This video evidence played a pivotal role in drawing immediate public and official attention to the matter. The survivor has maintained that Singh had been harassing her persistently for a long period before the latest incident.
Police Action and Criminal History
Speaking to the media, Rampur Baghelan police station in-charge, Sandeep Chaturvedi, provided crucial details about the accused's background and the police's next steps. "The accused was produced before the court on Sunday, which sent him to jail. We also apprised the court regarding his old criminal history. He was externed from the district last year. We are again preparing a proposal for externment of the accused," Chaturvedi stated.
Given his past criminal record and the severity of the current charges, the police are now formally preparing to extern Ashok Singh from Satna district once again. Externment is a legal process used by authorities to remove individuals with a history of criminal activity from a specific geographical area for a stipulated time to prevent further offences.
The case highlights the challenges of addressing crimes involving politically connected individuals and the role of social media in bringing such incidents to light, ensuring quicker institutional response.
