Woman withdraws rape complaint against Maharashtra minister Munde

A woman who accused NCP leader and Maharashtra cabinet minister Dhananjay Munde of rape withdrew her complaint on Friday (January 22). The woman submitted a written statement to the police retracting the charge. No FIR was lodged, but she has been asked to submit a notarised affidavit in this regard.

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The police claimed the woman was upset that the case was being politicised. The complainant is the sister of the woman Munde admitted having a relationship with. The complainant accused Munde, the social justice minister, of committing rape and sexual assault by making false promises of marriage. Munde admitted he had two children with the complainant’s sister outside marriage.

The woman had lodged a complaint with the police on January 10. ACP Jyotsna Rasam, of Oshiwara Police in Mumbai, had recorded her statement. While Munde denied the charges, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said the party would wait for an inquiry report. But the BJP asked for his immediate dismissal from the Cabinet.

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Later, BJP leader Krishna Hegde and MNS worker Manish Dhuri approached the police alleging the complainant had been stalking them and had tried to honeytrap them.