A BJP lawmaker’s daughter has uploaded a video saying her father has set his “goons after me” because she has married the man of her choice, and appealed to police to protect the couple for “our lives are in danger”.
A PTI report said Sakshi Mishra, daughter of Bithari-Chainpur MLA Rajesh Kumar Mishra, and husband Ajitesh “Abhi” Kumar had approached Allahabad High Court on Thursday seeking protection, and the hearing had been fixed for July 15.
The petition said Rajesh was unhappy because he is a Brahmin and Ajitesh a Dalit.
In the video, Sakshi, 23, has identified her father as “Pappu Bhartaul, MLA” and alleged that “Rajiv Rana” — a purported henchman of her father — “is here with a team and is chasing me”.
Rajesh, whose nickname is “Pappu Bhartaul (Weightlifter)”, faces old cases of criminal intimidation, robbery, extortion and cheating.
Bareily MLA Pappu Bhartaul's daughter released a video appealing to her father to stop opposing her love marriage and call back his goons. The daughter had married a man against her families wishes and fears honour killing. @Uppolice pic.twitter.com/Z2hQcmWyJR
— Saurabh Trivedi (@saurabh3vedi) July 10, 2019
He issued a statement on Thursday saying: “Whatever is going on against me in the media is wrong. My daughter is an adult and has the right to take her own decisions. Neither I nor my men or any member of my family has issued any threat to anyone.”
A police officer said Sakshi had run away from home last week and married Ajitesh, a 29-year-old businessman from Bareilly, in an Allahabad temple. The couple appear to be in hiding. Bithari-Chainpur too is in Bareilly district.
R.K. Pandey, DIG, Bareilly, told reporters: “Taking note of Sakshi’s video, I have asked the district police to ensure the couple’s security. But the couple have yet to contact us or let us know their location.”
Kumar’s father Harish had formally complained to the police on Tuesday that the MLA and his goons were threatening to kill him and his family, sources said. The Kumars’ home in Bareilly town was locked on Thursday.
Sakshi’s 90-second video, uploaded on Wednesday, shows her sitting in a car with a man, presumably Ajitesh. In it she appeals to the local MP and the MLAs and councillors in Bareilly not to help her father target the couple.
“Daddy, please accept my decision and live and let me live peacefully,” she appeals in Hindi. “Daddy, you have set your goons after me. You have set Rajiv Rana after me…. Our lives are in danger.”
Another video of the couple requesting help. pic.twitter.com/S9Uc63Zqc4
— Saurabh Trivedi (@saurabh3vedi) July 10, 2019
Saying she wants “to be happy and free”, Sakshi adds: “I want to declare through this video that if anything bad happens to me, Abhi or his family then my father, Vicky Bhartaul (her uncle) and Rajiv Rana would be responsible. Rajiv Rana is here with a team and is chasing me. I may die but I will destroy his entire family before that.”
She pleads with her father to “change your thinking”, saying: “Abhi and his family are not animals; they are good people, I will be happy with them.”
Sakshi had earlier released a video of her wedding on Tuesday and issued her first appeal to the police to provide her with security, without explaining the reason.
