Rape case: such incidents happen, says Maha minister

MUMBAI: State tribal development minister Vishnu Savara, known for making insensitive remarks, was at it again on Friday.

Speaking to journalists in Buldhana on a tribal girl’s rape, he said “such incidents do happen”. A month ago, when a two-year-old tribal child died of malnutrition in Palghar, he had infamously said “let it be”.

On Friday, Savara visited Pala Ashram School in Buldhana district, where a 13-year-old girl was raped, and said the tribal development ministry will cancel the school’s recognition. “We will cancel the recognition of the school and the rape case will be entrusted to a fast-track court,” he said, uttering in the same breath that incidents like rape do occur.


Meanwhile, the CM has said that a woman IPS officer (Aarti Singh) has been asked to conduct an inquiry into the Buldhana rape. “We have set up a team of women police officers to probe the incident.

Besides interacting with the victim, they will interact with all girl students, not only in Buldhana district, but also at all ashram schools across the state,” Devendra Fadnavis said. Leader of opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil expressed shock at Savara’s “irresponsible and insensitive” comment.

Buldhana’s SP Sanjay Baviskar said an offence of rape (under the IPC) complaint has been registered against one person and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against 10 persons. “Eight persons have been arrested and remanded in police custody for a week,” he told TOI.