Charges framed against suspended RJD MLA Raj Ballabh Yadav, others in rape of minor

On 6 June, a district court framed charges against a suspended RJD MLA and others accused in the February rape of a minor girl.

Suspended RJD MLA Raj Ballabh Yadav surrendered before a local court on 10 March, fearing confiscation of his properties as he was evading arrest for about a month after an FIR was registered against him for allegedly raping the minor girl at his residence in Biharsharif on 6 February.

On 6 June, Additional District and Sessions Judge (I) Shashi Bhushan Prasad Singh framed charges against Yadav - who was suspended by the party on 14 February.

On 22 April, the Nalanda Police filed a chargesheet against Yadav and the other accused in the case. The 205-page chargesheet was filed by women's police station in-charge Mridula Kumari in the court of additional district judge Rashmi Shikha with the RJD MLA listed as the main accused.

Special Public Prosecutor Shyameshwar Dayal said that Yadav has been charged under various sections of IPC that includes 376 for raping a girl. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) 2012.

The other five accused persons are Sulekha Devi, Radha Devi, Tusi Devi, Chhoti Kumari and Sandeep. Sulekha Devi and her kin, who are named in the chargesheet, were accused of supplying girls to Yadav,

-- With PTI inputs