Mumbai: Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh rejected the claims that cops were involved in an incident that took place in Jalgaon hostel where women staying here were allegedly made to strip while dancing.
The Home Minister on Wednesday ordered a probe into the purported incident that took place in the government-run Ashadeep Hostel, and said its report would be submitted within 48 hours. After the inquiry by a 6-member women's panel, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, Women & Child Development Minister Yashomati Thakur and Water Supply Minister Gulabrao Patil - who is Jalgaon Guardian Minister - informed the Maharashtra Assembly that "no such incident" ever happened there.
"The initial probe report is available It was investigated by 6 women officers. There are 17 women inmates and statements of 41 witnesses have been recorded. The entry register was scrutinized. It is found that there is no truth in the allegations. No male police official was present, it's a women's hostel and policemen are not permitted inside," Deshmukh said. Deshmukh added that a woman who reportedly made the complaint was 'mentally unstable' and her husband and family members have complained about her medical condition.
The minister said that on February 20, a cultural-entertainment programme was organized for the hostelites in which no male police officials were present, and during the 'garba' dance, one woman had discarded her long 'ghaghra' as she was feeling uncomfortable.
The Maharashtra Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party was left red-faced after a probe revealed that the alleged incident was found to be false. Slamming the government for the 'shameful' incident, former CM Devendra Fadnavis said that a purported video-clip showed the police making the girls dance nude and demanded a thorough investigation.
They said the alleged incident came to the fore after a local NGO Jananayak Foundation brought it to the notice of Jalgaon Collector Abhijit Rao and sought a probe.
(With inputs from IANS)
