Assam Legislator Gopinath Das booked for Rape

Guwahati, Sep 7: A legislator from Assam, Gopinath Das, has been booked for rape following a complaint from a domestic help, police said on Monday. Das, who represents Boko constituency, is from the All India United Democratic Front led by Moulana Badaruddin Ajmal.

Police said the minor girl and her family lodged a complaint against Das on Sunday night, alleging she was raped by Das in his vehicle a few days back. “The girl’s father said she was confined to a house since then. It was only after she escaped that her family came to know about the incident. An FIR was then registered against Das in Kamrup,” a police officer said.

Kamrup Superintendent of Police Indrani Baruah said a case against Das was registered under section 343 of the Indian Penal Code and section 4 and 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

“We are investigating,” she said.

Das denied the charge and said it was an attempt to mar his political career ahead of assembly elections early next year.

“The girl has been working at my Guwahati residence since June 28. She went missing along with some clothes and money on Saturday night. I was informed by my family… Next day, I registered a missing person complaint. Meanwhile, I came to know that the girl’s family had filed a rape complaint against me,” Das said.