Rajasthan minister booked on rape charges

A Rajasthan minister was on Tuesday booked for allegedly beating up and raping a woman at his residence here, a charge he claimed as ‘political conspiracy’ to malign his image ahead of the assembly polls.

Rajasthan minister of state for dairy, Babu Lal Nagar, had been booked under sections 376 (rape) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the IPC following direction from the Judicial Magistrate No 9 in the city, SHO of Sodala police station Bhawani Singh Shekhawat said. The case has been referred to CID-Crime Branch as it involved a member of the Assembly, the officer said.

When contacted, the minister claimed it was a ‘political conspiracy’ to tarnish his image ahead of the assembly elections and said, ‘I am ready to face any probe in the matter as I know the woman was trying to defame me on the diktat of rival leaders.’