Union minister’s daughter harassed at event in Maharashtra; CM Fadnavis assures action

NEW DELHI: Union minister Raksha Khadse filed a police complaint on Sunday regarding her daughter and friends being harassed by men at an event in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district, leading to one arrest. The incident occurred at Sant Muktai Yatra in Kothali village on Friday night, with seven individuals named in the FIR at Muktainagar police station. Soham Mali was arrested while teams have been formed to nab the other accused.
The suspects face charges of stalking under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and POCSO Act, with additional IT Act provisions for unauthorised photography. The minister's bodyguards identified the perpetrators.
Taking cognisance of the matter, SDPO Muktainagar Krishnat Pingale said, "On February 28, some girls went near the 'Jhula' during the Yatra). At that time, Aniket Bhui, Piyush More, Soham Kodi, Anuj Patil, Chetan Bhui, Sachin Palve and Kiran Madi, these people stalked the girls and molested them. An FIR has been registered, and three teams have been formed to arrest the accused. One of the accused, Aniket Bhui, already has 4 cases registered against him, and the rest have no previous cases against them. The victim came here today, and we have registered a case as per her statement. We have registered a case of molestation under the POCSO Act and IT Act."

The Union minister and BJP leader explained to reporters that while she was in Gujarat, her daughter sought permission to attend the event. She had instructed her daughter to be accompanied by security personnel. The group of boys followed her daughter and friends, took photographs and videos, and when the staff intervened, "the boys resorted to unruly behaviour, and a mob of 30 to 40 people gathered."
Khadse revealed that her daughter informed her about similar misconduct by the same group at a public event on February 24.
"It is unfortunate. If such things happen to an MP or Union minister's daughter, imagine what common people have to go through," she said.
She expressed concern about public safety, noting that local residents reported these boys regularly harassed schoolgirls.
Chief minister Fadnavis, speaking in Raigad, confirmed the political affiliation of the perpetrators and assured strict action against them.
Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal criticised the Mahayuti government's handling of law and order, highlighting the severity of the incident occurring despite security presence.
"The incident of Union Minister Khadse's daughter being molested by thugs and security guards being pushed is extremely worrying and shows that women and girls are not safe in the state," he said.
"There has been an increase in atrocities against women and girls in the state. If the daughter of a Union minister is unsafe, it is better not to think about girls of common citizens," he added.