NGO Corruption in India: Raghavji Lakhamsi Savala Sex Scandal

Who is Raghavji Lakhamsi Savala?

Raghavji Lakhamsi Savala is a well known and long-serving veteran leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. His political career began in 1946 when he joined this organization. He also became a practicing lawyer in 1958 and was elected as an MLA for the constituency of Vidisha in 1967. He twice served as an MP for Lok Sabha from 1977 to 1979 and then from 1989 to 1991. From 1991 to 1992, and then 1994 to 2000, he served in the Rajya Sabha.

During Raghavji Lakhamsi Savala's term as MP, he held roles serving in a number of ministerial committees. After serving a term in the capital, he came back to state politics in 2003, when he was elected as an MLA. Since 2003, Raghavji Lakhamsi Savala has been the Finance Minister. During his time he has introduced 10 state budgets. Another important role that he had was as part of the Empowered Committee of the State Finance Minister. This committee was responsible for outlining the details of the Goods and Services Tax, which Raghavji was opposed to.

Raghavji has had a long and productive political life. However, in 2013, this all changed when allegations of a sexual scandal were brought to light. It would be the end of his political career, seeing him stepping down from his role as the Finance Minister of Madhya Pradesh at the age of 79.

The Scandal Against Raghavji

On July 5th of 2013, a sex scandal broke out involving Raghavji and a male domestic servant called Rajkumar Dangi. Rajkumar, whom was called Rajkumari in private by Raghavji, went to the police in Habibganj, where he accused Raghavji of sexual exploitation and sexually abusing him. Rajkumar stated that he was promised a permanent job in the government by Raghavji. He claimed that the 79-year-old ex-minister had sodomized him, using these promises to coerce him into sexual acts. He handed over a CD and demanded that he and his family be protected.

There were two other servants who came forward, Sher Singh and Suresh Singh, who backed the victims' claims of sexual exploitation, which they said had been going on for years. He was also accused of other unethical dealings by another servant.

The CD and allegations sparked political attacks that intensified. An FIR was registered against Raghavji but he went missing soon after it was filed. He had also submitted his own anticipatory bail plea. When the state assembly session began on that Monday, Raghavji was nowhere to be found. It is said that he was in Vidisha at the time of the FIR being filed.

On July 9th the police were tipped off that Raghavji's was hiding in a flat in the Kohifia district of Bhopal. When they arrived to arrest Raghavji, they found that the main entrance to the apartment was locked from the outside, but believed he was still there hiding. The door had to be broken down by the police and, once inside, they found and arrested the ex-minister. He was then taken to a hospital to have a medical check before being brought to the Habibganj metro station.

On July 22nd the court sent him into custody. Raghavji's bail plea was rejected so he applied to the High Court. The High Court granted him bail on August 13th, based on the ex-ministers age. At this point, Raghavji had been in custody for 34 days.

Many questioned why there was such a delay in arresting Raghavji. The opposition claimed that this was due to him being protected by Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan. It was also alleged, by Congress leader Ajay Singh, that the FIR was not registered for 6 hours after the discovery of the scandal.

The Chief Minister denied these allegations and claimed that, within one hour of the CD coming to light, he had called Raghavji to ask him to submit his resignation papers. On the same day, the BJP suspended Raghavji.

The supporters and family of Raghavji have stated that this case is a politically motivated one and that the victim who made these accusations against the 79-year-old ex-minister had left his services a month prior to the accusations. They believe that the man was supported by leaders in Congress.

The Effects of the Scandal

This was the first blemish against someone who had served in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly and in Parliament. When a CD was released as proof of the sexual acts, Raghavji was forced to resign from his position. The Minister of Water Resources, Jayant Malaiya, was given charge of the Finance Ministry when Raghavji resigned.

The sex scandal created a rift between Raghavji and the government that did not close, even after he was given bail. A once powerful politician saw his career break apart like fragile glass. He was seen sitting alone at the foundation celebration of the Vidisha Medical College with former colleagues keeping their distance. Since then he has been marginalized by the government. Should the charges against him be proven as true, he could face 10 years in prison.

References-

NGO Corruption in India

Thursday 16 May 2019

Raghavji Lakhamsi Savala Sex Scandal

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