A day after Haryana BJP chief Mohan Lal Badoli was named in a gang-rape FIR registered in Kasauli last month, opposition parties and political leaders have intensified their demands for his immediate resignation and arrest. The allegations have sparked a political storm, with strong reactions from leaders across the spectrum. Haryana Power Minister Anil Vij termed the allegations against Badoli “very serious” and expressed confidence that the BJP high command would take appropriate action.

Speaking to reporters, Vij said, “The allegations of gang rape and criminal intimidation are grave. I am sure the BJP high command will take note of this and act soon.” Congress MP Deepender Hooda launched a scathing attack on the BJP, accusing the party of failing to uphold its claimed moral high ground. “The FIR against the state president of the BJP exposes the true face of a party that frequently claims to uphold high moral standards. These allegations are horrifying, and the BJP must apologize to the women of this country,” Hooda stated. Hooda further demanded a high-level investigation into the case, adding, “When the BJP’s key face in Haryana is implicated in such serious allegations, it tarnishes the image and ethical standards of the organization.”

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) state secretariat also demanded the arrest of Badoli and co-accused Rocky Mittal, a former Haryana publicity adviser and singer. CPI(M) state secretary Prem Chand criticized the BJP for keeping the FIR under wraps for over a month and a half. “Why was the FIR concealed from the media and public for so long? This reflects the BJP’s double standards. The party that claims to be ‘different’ has repeatedly failed to act in such disgraceful episodes involving its leaders,” the CPI (M) leader said in a statement.

New Twist: Witness Claims Allegations Are False
A woman, identified as a friend of the alleged victim, held a press conference in Panchkula, denying the allegations and calling them false. The woman, who claimed to be a Delhi resident and a friend of the complainant, refuted the accusations during the press conference. “I am not a witness, and this is a lie. Nothing like this happened,” she said. She revealed that on July 3, 2023, she, along with her friend and her friend’s boss, met Rocky Mittal during a trip. They stayed in the same room, went to bed early, and left early the next morning.

“I came to know about these allegations through social media. It is all false. I did not witness anything like this,” she added. The woman also stated that she was repeatedly summoned for questioning but did not attend. Dismissing claims that she had seen Mohan Lal Baroli at the hotel, the woman said, “I did not see Baroli at the hotel. The statements made about me are untrue. While we interacted with Rocky Mittal, the accusations linking Baroli are baseless.” The case, filed by the complainant in Solan, has named both Mohan Lal Baroli and Rocky Mittal as accused, with the woman claiming to have been made a witness in the matter. However, the woman’s denial has raised questions about the credibility of the allegations.