Jharkhand Police have booked Simdega Congress legislator Bhushan Bara after a 14-year-old tribal girl accused him of rape, physical assault, and criminal intimidation at his official residence.
The case has triggered a fierce political firestorm across Ranchi. On Friday, Bharatiya Janata Party workers marched on the Dhurwa police station, demanding Bara's immediate arrest as investigators launched forensic evaluations.
Hatia Deputy Superintendent of Police Neeraj Kumar confirmed that officers registered a formal case at the Dhurwa police station after receiving a written complaint from the minor complainant, a resident of Simdega district.
Police immediately initiated the statutory medical examination protocol. Investigators stated that formal proceedings will rest squarely on the survivor's sworn testimony, clinical test results, and corroborating forensic evidence gathered from the legislator's quarters.
"Action will proceed strictly on the basis of evidence that surfaces during investigation," DSP Neeraj Kumar said.
The allegations brought opposition cadres directly into the streets. BJP Mahila Morcha state president Seema Singh led a protest contingent outside the Dhurwa police station, calling for swift judicial retribution against the sitting lawmaker.
If the allegations are proven in court, he should be sentenced to death.
Seema Singh, President, BJP Mahila Morcha Jharkhand
Singh directed sharp criticism at the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Congress alliance, charging that coalition leaders champion women's safety across other states while remaining silent on offenses reported inside Jharkhand.
| Case Parameter | Official Status |
|---|---|
| Accused | Bhushan Bara (Congress MLA, Simdega) |
| Police Jurisdiction | Dhurwa Police Station, Ranchi |
| Complainant | 14-year-old former domestic worker |
| Legal Framework | POCSO Act, relevant assault and criminal intimidation provisions |
| Investigating Authority | Ranchi Police (Supervised by Hatia DSP Neeraj Kumar) |
| Status of Accused | Booked; denies allegations; investigation underway |
Bara rejected the accusations in full, calling the complaint an engineered political frame-up designed to ruin his standing.
He confirmed that the teenager had been employed as domestic help at his official quarters, but stated she left that employment roughly four months ago. Bara questioned the delay in filing the complaint, asserting that political adversaries and middlemen manufactured the narrative long after her departure.
"Some broker-type people and political opponents have planted the entire story and are conspiring against me," Bara said. "I have no involvement in this."
Police officials stated that investigators are currently securing the victim's statement before a magistrate while awaiting clinical lab findings to determine the next procedural steps, including potential custodial interrogation.