Gujarat: Hardik Patel accused of sexual exploitation, NCW acts

NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma is slated to visit Surat to meet the complainant.

A woman has accused Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel of sexual exploitation. The woman has complained to the National Commission for Women in this regard.

Taking cognisance of the complaint against the 24-year-old Patel leader, NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma is slated to visit Surat to meet the woman, reported ANI.

The allegations against the PAAS leader comes days after a purported sex CD of Hardik Patel emerged.

The video appeared to have been shot in a hotel on May 16, 2017. However, the authenticity of the video could not be ascertained.

Reacting to the CD controversy, Patel had said that “Gujarat wants to see the CD of development in the state not of a 22-year-old boy.

He had also alleged that crores were being spent to defame him in the run to the Gujarat elections.

"People can do whatever they want, I will not deter from my demands. I will give a strong fight. The 23-year-old Hardik is growing up. Crores are being spent to defame me," he said.

Patel quota stir leaders had claimed that the CD was morphed circulated at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Patel had also said that the BJP would release many more such "morphed" videos to defame him ahead of polls. "Just few days back, I told the media that such CDs will be circulated. This is just the beginning of dirty politics. I am sure that BJP people would circulate some more CDs because the man who did it recently joined the party in Delhi. But I am not worried at all about such tactics," he had said.

"This is a morphed clip and I will give evidence in the coming days to prove my innocence. The BJP wants to retain power by defaming me," he said.