NEW DELHI – India’s Railways Police have arrested a member of Bihar’s Legislative Council on the charge of molesting a 12-year-old girl while they were travelling on the Purbanchal Express on Sunday.
Indian media has identified the lawmaker as Tunna Pandey, who belongs to the ruling Bhartia Janta Party (BJP). The party suspended his membership once news of his alleged involvement in the crime emerged.
The reports said that Pandey allegedly tried to molest the 12-year-old daughter of a Thailand-based Indian businessman while they were present in the same compartment of a train travelling from Kolkata to Gorakhpur.
The police complaint said that the girl was sleeping when Pandey tried to molest her by first trying to kiss her forcibly and later trying to take her to the bathroom. However, the girl woke up and started crying when she saw his unwelcome advances.
The police have also registered an FIR against the lawmaker under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act of India.
