Booked in POCSO case, Bihar Congress VP Brajesh Pandey resigns

Bihar Congress Vice-President Brajesh Kumar alias Brajesh Pandey has been booked in a case of sexual exploitation of a minor girl, following which he tendered resignation from his post.

Pandey has been booked under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on the basis of a supervision note submitted by CID Women’s cell DSP Mamta Kalyani, IGP (Weaker Section) Anil Kishore Yadav said on Tuesday.

Refusing to divulge more details, the IGP told PTI that investigation is on in the matter. Pandey’s name has been included in the case along with main accused Nikhil Priyadarshi.

The victim girl, daughter of a former state minister also from Congress, alleged that Priyadarshi duped her in the name of marriage and blackmailed her with his brother, another co-accused and the Congress leader.

An FIR has been registered in this connection with SC/ST police station in Patna.

Priyadarshi and the other co-accused are absconding after a local court recently rejected their anticipatory bail.

The girl appeared on local TV channels today and narrated her woes.

Alleging that Pandey, who was introduced to her as a big leader, used to threaten her with dire consequences, she accused him of being involved in a sex racket.

As the matter hogged media limelight, Pandey resigned from his post saying, “I do not want that the party suffer in any manner because of me”.

He faxed his resignation letter to state party president Ashok Choudhary.

State party spokesman Harkhu Jha said in a statement that the state president, who is now campaigning for Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, accepted the resignation.

Pandey, who had unsuccessfully contested from Govindganj constituency in East Champaran in 2015, pleaded innocence in his resignation letter.

The victim girl has been accusing Nikhil Priyadarshi and his family but “I do not know how come she is now naming me... I am deliberately victimised on behalf of somebody,” he said in the letter.