Solan court admits plea challenging cancellation report in gang rape case against Badoli

A Sessions Judge in Solan, Dr Arvind Malhotra, admitted a plea on April 1 filed by a gang rape victim, challenging a lower court’s order that accepted a cancellation report submitted by the Kasauli police on March 12. The accused in the case are Haryana BJP state president Mohan Lal Badoli and singer Rocky Mittal, alias Jai Bhagwan.

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The Kasauli police had booked Badoli and Mittal for gang rape and criminal intimidation based on a complaint filed by the woman on December 13, 2024, nearly a year-and-a-half after the crime occurred on July 3, 2023.

Lawyers AS Gujral, Manjot Gujral, and Gaurav Charaya, representing the victim, argued that the Kasauli court accepted the cancellation report without ensuring the complainant’s presence and without giving her an opportunity to file objections. They further stated that the magistrate should have sent the final report to the special court, which is the only competent court for the trial.

The victim has sought to set aside the lower court’s orders dated March 12, accepting the cancellation report. The sessions court has listed the case for April 22 and sought the record of the lower court.

In her complaint, the accused claimed that she was forced to consume liquor and was later raped. The duo also allegedly videographed her in a compromising state and clicked obscene pictures. The Kasauli police had filed a closure report in this case before the Kasauli court on February 4. Although the woman was asked to appear before the court on March 6 and March 12, she failed to do so, and on March 12, the Kasauli court accepted the Himachal Pradesh Police’s closure report.