Jharkhand BJP chief's son accused of sexual exploitation, marrying a minor

Ranchi: Jharkhand BJP president Tala Marandi's son Munna Marandi has been accused of sexually exploiting a girl for over two years and marrying another girl, a minor, this week.

A girl has filed a complaint at a court in Godda district that Munna exploited her sexually for two years while promising to marry her, and then went back on his word.

She said Munna befriended her, gifted her a mobile phone so that they could remain in touch, used her sexually, and then agreed to marry someone else.

She said she filed the complaint after she learnt about Munna's planned marriage.

Munna's marriage was reportedly solemnised on Tuesday -- allegedly with a girl who is only 11 years old. The minimum legal age for a girl to marry is 18.

The girl alleging sexual exploitation also approached the Jharkhand Women Commission on Wednesday. The commission's Chairperson Mahua Manjhi assured her that her complaint will be acted upon. 

Sources in the commission said that a notice could also be served on Tala Marandi for allegedly getting his son to marry a minor girl.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das cancelled his scheduled appearance at the wedding reception in Godda on Wednesday despite the fact that he was in the district on that day. 

Das did that to avoid controversy, sources in the Chief Minister Office said. 

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which rules the state, has so far been silent on the issue.

The opposition parties have demanded an enquiry into the entire episode.

"The BJP should sack the state president and fair probe should be instituted to investigate the allegations of sexual exploitation and marriage with a minor girl," Alok Dubey, General Secretary of Jharkhand unit of the Congress, told IANS. 

A Santhal tribal leader, Tala Marandi was appointed the president of the Jharkhand unit of the BJP last month.

He represents Borio Assembly constituency in Sahibganj district.