The woman who has accused North Tura MLA Thomas A Sangma of rape has denied the suggestion that she is thinking of withdrawing the complaint against the National People’s Party (NPP) legislator.
The denial by the victim comes in the wake of speculation among the political and state’s elite, which had even been aired in media circles, of the woman dropping her complaint.
“She has categorically stated that she has no intention to withdraw the case at this point in time,” said her lawyer, Pillan T Sangma, over the phone from Shillong.
The woman registered an FIR on June 1 with police in Shillong. The woman is a resident of the state capital. In her complaint, the woman accused the MLA of raping her on multiple occasions from January 2020 to April 2021 at her residence or in a city hotel “on the pretext of marriage”.
Pillan said that the victim was unwell due to which she has not been able to complete the medical tests as is required, though she will do so when her condition improves sufficiently. The victim has already given her statement to the investigating officer in Shillong, however.
The advocate has also filed a petition under section 301 (A) to allow the private counsel to assist the public prosecutor and to make submission to the court on behalf of the complainant.
Meanwhile, according to sources, a plea for anticipatory bail in the case has been filed by Thomas but, due to the absence of the public prosecutor, the matter is expected to be taken up tomorrow.
The case that has been filed by the victim, who also said that she is pregnant with the MLA’s child, has led to a tremendous amount of interest and salacious gossip. This has led to many social media users, apparently in an effort to defend the MLA, to begin victim-shaming her. Details of her life, photos and family have been widely circulated on social media, something that could prompt the Women’s Commission to take up urgently.
Reacting to the situation, the advocate said that the victim is mulling another FIR against those trying to defame her and will take a call once she is in better health.
