In connection with a rape case, former Gujarat BJP president Jayanti Bhanushali was summoned on Tuesday to appear before the police and record his statement. The summons to Bhanushali has been issued under Section 160 of the CrPC filed against him in Sarthana police station of Surat. The former BJP legislator from Kutch district is absconding. A week ago a 21-year-old woman had lodged an FIR with Surat police against the BJP leader under various sections of IPC, including charges of a public servant committing rape, criminal intimidation, cheating, forgery and wrongful confinement. Incidentally, some of the videos showing Bhanushali in compromising position went viral on social media.
After allegations against him, Bhanushali had resigned as state BJP vice-president. After tendering resignation to state BJP president, he said that he wouldn’t take any position in the party till he would prove innocent in the case. Meanwhile, another former legislator from Kutch Chhabil Patel’ name has come in the case. Patel came in saffron fold from Congress party ahead of the lok Sabha polls.