In a major relief for the NCP, a Mumbai-based woman who had accused party leader and Maharashtra Cabinet minister Dhananjay Munde of rape, on Friday withdrew her police complaint. The woman told the investigating officer that she is taking back the complaint against Munde. She, however, did not cite any reason.
A police official said that the complainant has been asked to submit a notorised affidavit in this regard.
The woman had approached the police with the complaint against the Social Justice Minister (45) on January 11, accusing him of rape and sexual assault on pretext of marriage in 2006. The police had started an inquiry and the woman had visited the Oshiwara police station to record her statement.
Munde, a senior NCP leader from Beed district, has denied the rape charges and dubbed them has an attempt to blackmail him. The minister, however, has admitted that he was in a relationship with the complainant woman's sister.
As the complaint came to light, the opposition BJP demanded Munde's resignation from the cabinet. However, the NCP ruled out any action against Munde till the charges were proved.
Meanwhile, reacting to the development, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar said that it seems the party's decision to wait for the truth to come out after rape allegations were levelled against Munde was right. Pawar also alleged that opposition is making "efforts" to bring down the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state.
With PTI Inputs
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