Dhananjay Munde's 'rape accuser' tried to trap us too: BJP and MNS leaders

Dhananjay Munde has said he hasn’t been asked to quit yet by the NCP. Picture/Twitter

Social Justice Minister Dhananjay Munde, who is battling rape accusations, got a shot in the arm on Thursday when leaders from the BJP and MNS said on Thursday that his ‘rape accuser' had also tried to lure and blackmail them. NCP boss Sharad Pawar said that the accusations against Munde were serious and needed to be discussed at a forum of senior leaders.

Krishna Hegde. Pic/Twitter

BJP's Krishna Hegde informed the Amboli police that the woman attempted to honey trap him between 2010 and 2015. MNS's Manish Dhuri has also said that the woman had tried her luck with him between 2008-2009. Sources said that last July the same woman had lodged a complaint of rape against an employee of Jet Airways who she was in a relationship with for a couple of years.

Manish Dhuri, MNS leader

NCP to consider the twist
Pawar's statement on Thursday led to understanding that Munde was given some time to quit on his own before the seniors took any decision. But Hegde's police complaint altered the public perception by late afternoon. Sources said the NCP would consider the twist before deciding Munde's fate. Munde has said he wasn't asked to quit. State NCP president Jayant Patil also defended Munde.

Munde has denied the charge of rape saying he was being blackmailed. He said he had a consensual relationship with the elder sister of the accuser and the couple had two children whom he has given his name. "The children stay with my family," he has said in a prolonged social media post, adding that the mother has been provided for by him in the best possible manner.

While Munde met Patil at the NCP headquarters, Hedge sent media persons a letter he sent to Amboli police. Later, he visited the police station to record his statement and urge the officers to file a first information report (FIR) against the woman.

Could have been me: Hegde
In a move that has somewhat blunted the BJP's attack on Munde, Hegde informed the police that the woman has been calling, messaging and coaxing him since 2010 to have a relationship with her. "This harassment went to the point of stalking. Through my sources I found out that she is a dubious person who was setting up a honey trap. I totally avoided meeting her. I was informed that few more persons have been honey trapped and money has been extorted," said his complaint.

"I was MNS Vibhag Pramukh then. She wanted to make an album and she was trying to blackmail me to get it done. I did not complain against her then. We haven't been in touch since then," said Dhuri, adding that he called Hegde immediately after learning that he had shared information with the police.

Hegde, who is an ex-MLA, has asked for investigation of the harassment, messages and phone calls that continued till 2015 even as he avoided meeting the woman. "I told her clearly that I was not interested in meeting her, forget having any kind of relationship with her as she seeks. Even on January 6 and 7, 2021, she WhatsApped me. I did not respond to messages except by sending her an emoji," he said.

Hedge said he was shocked to see and read in the media her allegations against Munde. "This is when I decided to inform you about her. Today, they have targeted him (Munde), a couple of years ago it could have been me, and tomorrow it will be someone else. This is a process to lure, honey trap, blackmail and extort money and I would request the Mumbai police to file an FIR and take the matter to its logical conclusion," added Hegde.

Will discuss with colleagues: Pawar
NCP chief Pawar said he would share the information that Munde gave him with his party colleagues. "The charges against him are serious. It seems he had anticipated personal attacks in this particular case and moved the high court which gave him relief. I will have to share Munde's submission with my senior party colleagues. Then only I can decide," he told reporters.

"Our priority is to make things clear from our side instead of levelling allegations against the opposition (that is calling for Munde's head). I must also tell you that Munde hasn't given me his resignation," he added. In the evening, Pawar summoned senior police officers to his residence to know more about the case. Senior leader Praful Patel also met the party president.

The BJP has demanded Munde's resignation on moral grounds. The party's state president Chandrakant Patil has said Munde has accepted certain facts that go against him legally and morally. "If he doesn't resign, then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar should ask him to quit. I appeal to Munde to take a call first. If nothing happens even after our demand, the BJP will take to the streets," he said on Wednesday.