DEHRADUN: A BJP functionary allegedly raped a widow, working as a daily wager in Uttarakhand, repeatedly over three years, threatening to kill her and her children and circulate explicit photos and videos of the assaults. The incidents occurred after she sought a permanent job from him at the state’s dairy federation, with the first assault happening in a hotel room where he had lured her under false pretences in 2021.
The incidents occurred after she sought a permanent job from him at the state’s dairy federation, with the first assault happening in a hotel room where he allegedly lured her under false pretences in 2021.
Mukesh Bora, who served as the ‘administrator’ of the Uttarakhand Cooperative Dairy Federation Ltd (UCDFL) and is a prominent figure in BJP, was named in the complaint. The woman lodged a police complaint at Lalkuan police station in Nainital district, detailing her ordeal, including threats and blackmail by Bora.
A police officer familiar with the case said, “She first met Bora when she approached him at his office in Lalkuan, requesting that her temporary job be made permanent following her husband’s death in 2020. He promised to consider her case.”
On Nov 10, 2021, Bora called her to a local hotel, claiming they would meet with other officials to discuss her request. “He asked her to wait in his room, saying the officials would join them in a few minutes,” the officer added. However, no one else came, and Bora allegedly raped her in the hotel room. He added, “When she said that she would inform the police, Bora threatened her, claiming he would circulate photos and videos of the act, which he secretly captured on his phone.”
Bora allegedly raped her multiple times after that, using the same threats. A few months ago, he reportedly asked her to get intimate with his friends, which she refused. “Bora then threatened to kill her and her children through his driver, Kamal Belwal, and told her to come to him whenever he wanted,” said the officer. The woman, fed up with the harassment and fearing for her children, finally lodged a police complaint, leading to the case being registered on Sunday.
Nainital SSP Prahlad Narayan Meena said, “Bora has been booked for repeatedly raping the woman under IPC sections 376(2)(n) and criminal intimidation under section 506. A probe has been initiated, and action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.”
Following the police action, the UCDFL management removed Bora from his position as ‘administrator’ on Sunday evening. Bora, who was also the chairman of the Nainital district unit of the dairy body, had previously served as its chairperson. When contacted, the president of BJP’s Nainital district unit, Pratap Bisht, said, “The party and govt are with the people of the state. Law is taking its due course against those involved in anything criminal.”
