Jaipur- On the orders of a local court, police has registered an FIR against newly elected Hawamahal MLA Bal Mukundacharya and his father, Purushottam Sharma, on charges of assaulting a Dalit man and insulting him with caste-related words. The incident took place before Bal Mukundacharya, alias Sanjay Sharma, was elected MLA.

Acharya had won the Hawa Mahal seat by defeating Congress candidate RR Tiwari by a thin margin of 974 votes. He went around his constituency shutting down shops selling non-vegetarian food a day after being elected and later apologised for his actions after people complained about him to the National Human Rights Commission.

According to the FIR registered at Kardhani police station, the complainant, Surajmal Raigar, son of Ganeshram Raigar, resident of village Pithabas Hathoj, Jaipur alleged that on August 10, he was working in his field. During this time, the accused Balmukandacharya, alias Sanjay Sharma, and his father Purushottam, residents of village Hathoj tehsil along with their aides came to the complainant's farm. As soon as they arrived, Balmukandacharya, alias Sanjay Sharma, kicked the complainant on the chest, and hurled castesist slurs. They scuffled and abused him, claiming that nothing can happen on the basis of the report filed against them at Kardhani police station. They allegedly also said that their reach is very high and threatened to kill the complainant and his family.

It is alleged that MLA's father, Purushottam, spat on the face of the complainant and slapped him.

According to the FIR, hearing the noise, some people, rushed to the spot and rescued the complainant. The accused men left, threatening to take illegal possession of the complainant's land. The complainant alleges that every day, the accused persons insult him and his family members with caste-related words and try to take illegal possession of their land.

Surajmal filed a complaint against the accused at Kardhani police station on July 30, 2023, but the police did not take any action. This further boosted the morale of the accused. Due to the lack of police action, the accused threatened the complainant and his family members every day, insulting them with caste-based words.

Regarding the incident of August 8, the victim had given a written complaint against the accused in the police station Kardhani, Jaipur. However, the police refused to register an FIR. The victim was forced to take refuge in the court.

On the orders of the court, the police registered a case under Section 341, 323 IPC, and Section 3(1)(R)(S), 3(2)(V)(A) SC/ST Act against the accused MLA Bal Mukundacharya and his father Purushottam Sharma. The investigation has been handed over to Surendra Singh Ranaut, RPS, ACP Jhotwada, Jaipur (West).

Story Translated by Geetha Sunil Pillai

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