Gujarat BJP leader and university director allegedly rapes student with help of hostel warden

A 21-year-old nursing student on 18 June filed a rape complaint against a Gujarat BJP leader and founder-president of the privately-owned Parul University located at Waghodia near Vadodara.

In her FIR, the victim said she was raped by 66-year- old Jayesh Patel in his residence, situated near the girls' hostel. She also alleged that the woman rector of the girl's hostel, Bhavnaben Patel took her there and was aware of the crime and in fact, facilitated it.

According to a PTI report, the accused also threatened to expel her and fail her in her course if she revealed it to anyone.

Both Jayesh Patel and Bhavnaben Patel are absconding.

A case has been lodged at Waghodia police station against Patel under sections 376 (rape), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, while Bhavnaben has been booked under 114 (abetment).

In the past, Patel had contested state Assembly elections twice as a Congress candidate against sitting BJP lawmaker Madhu Srivastava but lost both the times. He had recently joined the BJP.

--With PTI inputs