Police files cancellation report in Kasauli ‘gang rape’ case

More than a month-and-a-half after registering an FIR against Haryana BJP president Mohan Lal Badoli and a singer Rocky Mittal, alias Jai Bhagwan, for gang rape at Kasauli, the police filed a cancellation report before a Nalagarh court yesterday citing lack of evidence in the case.

Since the Kasauli court is closed for winter vacation, the cancellation report was filed before the Nalagarh court.

While confirming the news, an official confirmed that the complainant failed to promptly identify the room where the alleged crime had taken place on July 3, 2023. She also refused to undergo a medical examination when called by the investigating officer. She did identify one room after staying at Kasauli for 2 to 3 days which, however, was doubtful as she got time to look around the hotel, added the official.

Analysis of her cell phone details revealed that she was not present in Kasauli on the fateful day of July 3, thus putting a question mark on her claim of being gang raped.

According to the FIR dated December 13, 2024, accessed by The Tribune, the case pertains to July 3, 2023, when the victim, who is from Haryana, had come to Kasauli along with her friend and her employer.

Since the victim had chosen to register an FIR a year and a half after alleged commission of the offence, her claim was already under the scanner. “The unexplained delay in filing the FIR has further put a question mark over her claim. She could not explain the delay,” informed a police officer.

The hotel run by the HP Tourism Development Corporation reportedly has no close circuit cameras. Moreover, no hotel keeps video recording dating back to a year and a half.

After the victim and her woman friend had checked out at a hotel at Kasauli on July 3, 2023, they had allegedly met Badoli and Rocky who struck a conversation with them, said the FIR. Badoli introduced himself as a politician while Rocky told them he was a singer, it said.

The accused had alleged that she was forced to consume liquor and was allegedly raped by the duo after she accompanied them to their room. They also allegedly videographed her in a compromising state besides clicking her obscene pictures, she had claimed.