Congress leader Rakesh Sinha has called for an impartial investigation into the rape allegations made against party MLA Bhushan Bara, criticizing the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) handling of the case. Speaking in Ranchi, Sinha stated, “Look, there can't be two sets of laws in this country. One law for the ruling party and another for the opposition. This country has a single, equal law. Allegations have been made against a Congress MLA. Naturally, there will be an impartial investigation.”
Sinha highlighted what he described as a double standard in response to the case, referring to the Ankita Bhandari case and questioning why BJP leaders facing a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry had not faced similar public scrutiny. He added, “And just because an FIR has been filed, if Congress MLAs are guilty, why aren't the people facing a CBI inquiry in the Ankita Bhandari case guilty? The ones facing a CBI inquiry are BJP leaders, so they can just go on to become Governors, while if any Congress MLA is accused, the entire BJP hits the streets and beats its chest. This country has a judicial system. BJP leaders don't need to become judges and hand down verdicts, deliver justice, or give judgments. And if, after the investigation, it is proven that any person, whether an MLA or anyone else, is guilty, the law will naturally take its course and do its job completely impartially.”
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) spokesperson Manoj Pandey also called for an investigation and assured that action would be taken if the allegations against Bara were proven. He stated, “Since a complaint has been filed against him, there will be an investigation and a probe. If he is found guilty, the investigation will establish the facts at first glance. There won't be any sign of a conspiracy or a plot by the opposition, so action will be taken. We neither protect anyone nor frame anyone.”
Pandey further added, “We are not the kind of people who protect adulterers anyway. Ram Rahim is not our poster boy either. Neither Chinmayanand nor Kuldeep Singh are in our party. We have a transparent and impartial government. There will be a fair investigation, and if they are guilty, action will be taken.”
An FIR has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act and the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act following the rape allegation against Congress MLA Bhushan Bara, who represents the 70-Simdega Assembly constituency, the Hatia Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Niraj Kumar said on Friday.
Bara has denied the rape allegation, describing it as a “completely fabricated” conspiracy by his political opponents aimed at tarnishing his reputation.