The victim also accused Rohit Joshi of blackmailing and kidnapping. (File)
A Delhi Police team of 15 officials reached Jaipur this morning to arrest Rajasthan Minister Mahesh Joshi's son Rohit, who is accused of raping a 23-year-old woman.
The police team visited two residences of the minister in the city. His son, however, was not found. "Our teams are conducting a search to locate Rohit Joshi, who has been on the run," said a senior police officer.
The Delhi Police then summoned Rohit Joshi to appear before them by May 18. The officials pasted a copy of the summon on the wall of their residence.
In her complaint, the woman alleged that the minister's son raped her on several occasions between January 8 last year and April 17 this year, and also promised to marry her, following which the Delhi Police had registered a zero First Information Report or zero FIR initially.
Later, the zero FIR was converted into a regular FIR since the allegations of commission of sexual assault committed in Sadar Bazar police station jurisdiction were also mentioned in the complaint.
The woman said she developed a friendship with Rohit Joshi on Facebook last year and they have been in contact since then. She also accused Rohit Joshi of kidnapping and blackmailing.
"During their first meeting, she alleged, he spiked her drink and when she woke up the next morning, he showed her naked photographs and videos which worried her," reads the FIR.
The woman further stated that on August 11, 2021, she found out that she was pregnant with his baby and alleged that Rohit Joshi forced her to take an abortion pill but she didn't.
Reacting to the allegations against his son, Mr Joshi said, "I have already said this before that I stand by the truth and justice. I am a law-abiding citizen. When the Delhi police will come to me, I will support their investigation."
Meanwhile, the Opposition BJP in Rajasthan alleged that the state government is trying to save the accused. "It is unfortunate that the government is trying to save the accused. It is the Congress culture, which tries to cover up such cases eventually, which is unfortunate," Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Gulab Chand Kataria said last week.
Mahesh Joshi is considered to be a close aide of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.