By ARUN PRATAP SINGH
Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 7 Nov: The controversial Jenny case, relating to allegations of sexual exploitation of a minor in Uttarakhand in 2002-03, has once again come into the political spotlight following fresh allegations made by the woman herself during a press conference in Dehradun. Jenny, who travelled to Dehradun from Assam, has accused former Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Harak Singh Rawat of sexually assaulting her when she was around 16 years old. She has demanded that the case be reopened for a fresh CBI investigation and that a fresh DNA test be conducted to establish the identity of her son’s biological father.
Addressing a press conference at Uttaranchal Press Club here on Saturday, Jenny appeared visibly emotional on several occasions while narrating what she claimed had happened to her nearly 23 years ago. She said she had come to Dehradun only to put forward her version of events and would return to Assam, but would continue visiting Uttarakhand until justice is delivered to her and her son. She also expressed apprehension about her safety, claiming that she can’t stay in Uttarakhand because her life was in danger.
Jenny recalled that she had arrived in Dehradun in October 2002 when she was approximately 16 years old and stayed in Yamuna Colony for nearly two months. She alleged that she was working at an STD booth near Prince Chowk when a worker associated with Harak Singh Rawat used to visit the establishment. When she approached him seeking employment, she was allegedly told that she would be given a receptionist’s job at an organisation in Tehri Garhwal. However, instead of being taken there, she was taken to Rawat’s residence in Yamuna Colony.
Jenny alleged that during her stay, Rawat sexually assaulted her and that she was taken to different places, including Mussoorie and a hotel, in his official vehicle. She further claimed that she was subjected to considerable harassment even after becoming pregnant. According to her, she was subsequently confined to a mental asylum, where she received little assistance despite her condition. She alleged that she was eventually threatened and forced to leave after being asked to sign certain documents. She claimed that a CBI team visited her at the institution only once and that she was never properly questioned during the investigation.
Jenny also referred to the legal proceedings initiated in 2016 against the former minister and alleged that the investigation did not adequately establish the facts. She claimed that she was merely asked to sign certain papers and was not properly informed about the proceedings. She questioned the circumstances under which the earlier DNA examination was conducted, asserting that her son was never subjected to the test. She added that when her son’s DNA was never collected, how was the DNA test conducted and demanded a fresh examination to establish the truth.
She said that she had already submitted a written complaint to Uttarakhand DGP Deepam Seth, whom she met before addressing the press conference, seeking that the matter be reopened and investigated afresh. Her principal demand, she maintained, is that her son should get justice and the identity of his biological father should be established.
During the press conference, Jenny also appealed to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to ensure justice for her, drawing a parallel with the government’s commitment to securing justice in the Ankita Bhandari murder case. When asked about BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt, she said she did not know him.
The fresh allegations have considerable political implications, particularly for the Congress, as the alleged incidents relate to a period when the party was in power in Uttarakhand and Harak Singh Rawat was a prominent minister. Although the allegations remain to be independently established, their revival can put the Congress on the defensive and provide political ammunition to the BJP, especially at a time when the state government is projecting its commitment to justice in cases involving women. For Harak Singh Rawat, who continues to be a politically significant figure in the state and also in the Congress, the renewed accusations can prove particularly damaging, potentially affecting his public standing and political credibility.
