Goa BJP defends leader booked in dowry harassment case

Panaji July 13 (IANS) A day after state BJP vice president Anil Hoble his son and wife were booked for alleged harassment for dowry and assaulting his daughter-in-law the Goa unit of party on Thursday alleged that vested interests are trying to exploit a "purely domestic" affair for political reasons.

"The BJP strongly condemns the attitude of the vested elements and the opposition Congress who are trying to make capital out of a family matter to malign the name of the party and its vice president Anil Hoble who is a reputed leader of bahujan samaj (masses) with a number of years of dedicated social service to his credit " state BJP president Vinay Tendulkar said in a statement issued here on Thursday.

"...We condemn the efforts being made by some so-called self-declared social activists and vested elements to politicise each and every event and drag the name of the BJP and malign the name of its senior party leaders " Tendulkar also said.

On Wednesday the Goa Police Women s Cell booked Hoble his wife and son for dowry-related harassment and assaulting his daughter in-law. They have been booked under sections 498(a) for dowry demand 323 for causing hurt 506(ii) for criminal intimidation and sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act 1961.

Hoble who has denied the charges calling them "politically motivated" has also been accused of assaulting his daughter in-law.

Tendulkar however said the party was fully confident that police would conduct a "free and fair investigation" into the case which the top BJP leader said was a "purely domestic family matter".

--IANS
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