Congress steps up pressure in Bhiwandi sexual assault case

Bhiwandi: The Congress has stepped up its demand for action in the alleged gang-rape case involving a 22-year-old married woman from Bapgaon in Bhiwandi taluka. Addressing a press conference in Kalyan, Maharashtra Pradesh Mahila Congress president Sandhya Savvalakhe questioned why former BJP MLA Narendra Pawar and dismissed police personnel Shailesh Patil had not been arrested.

An FIR was registered at Padgha police station against Pawar and Patil after the woman alleged that she was taken to a farmhouse in Bapgaon and sexually assaulted.
Police are investigating the case, while Pawar has denied the allegations and described them as a conspiracy to defame him. Both accused had been reported as absconding during the investigation. A Bhiwandi sessions court has also rejected Pawar’s anticipatory bail plea, with the court noting the need for custodial interrogation.

Savvalakhe also questioned why women office-bearers of the BJP had remained silent over the allegations. She expressed concern about the security of Congress group leader Kanchan Kulkarni, who accompanied the complainant to the police station.

Savvalakhe demanded that the accused be arrested and that action be taken against them in accordance with the law. The investigation remains underway.