Congress workers burn rape accused Gurgaon deputy mayor’s effigy

Congress workers on Wednesday burnt an effigy of Gurgaon deputy mayor Parminder Kataria, accused of raping a divorcee on pretext of marriage. The protesters also sought his resignation and arrest.

Members of the Congress youth wing gathered at the party office here and marched towards Kataria’s office in the Municipal Corporation Gurgaon’s old building. They raised slogans against the BJP to which Kataria belongs, alleging that Gurgaon BJP legislator Umesh Aggarwal is also facing trial in a rape case. “First accused (legislator Aggarwal) committed crime and then forced victim to take back the complaint. Now, Kataria has gone underground to put pressure on victim,” a protester said.

Police said Kataria has so far not joined the investigation. Kataria was booked on October 24 on the charge of raping a divorcee after promising to marry her. The 40-year-old woman filed a complaint at the women police station, alleging that Kataria, 42, raped her several times in the last six months. She said the deputy mayor’s two accomplices Ravinder Tyagi and Praveen Kumar threatened her with dire consequences if she narrated her ordeal to anyone.