MHA directs Mumbai Police to take legal action over rape threats issued to Priyanka Chaturvedi’s daughter

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday directed Mumbai Police to register a case and take legal action against the person who issued rape threats against Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi’s ten-year-old daughter. The internal security ministry also asked Twitter to furnish details of the account used to issue threats.

Speaking to India Today, Priyanka spoke of hurdles put up by Mumbai Police even as the Congress leader’s minor daughter faced threat.

“I received a call from MHA this afternoon. I told them that Mumbai Police was asking me to be physically present to register a case. I had told senior officer including DCP of concerned area that I am out of town, but the cops insisted on my physical presence even though I had tagged Mumbai Police along with the abusive troll and sent them screen shots of the threat. Even then Mumbai Police was insisting I be physically present, while in some of the other cases, the cops have taken action.”

The Congress leader was to fly to Lucknow but cancelled owing to bad weather.

The Congress leader further expressed concern about her daughter’s safety, “I am a public figure. I often shuttle between different places, it worries me that I frequently travel and there is concern for my daughter. I plan to seek security for my daughter as my address is known, my phone numbers are public, it is not difficult to figure out my movement. I will seek further help if I feel like,” Priyanka said. “Just lodging an FIR is not a must, but taking it to a logical conclusion is important.”

Home Minister Rajnath Singh also directed Delhi Police Commmissioner Amulya Patnaik to file an FIR against the threat issued to Priyanaka’s daughter. The FIR will be lodged at the Tughlaq Road Police Station. Rajnath Singh called the Delhi PCommissioner to take such threats “very seriously”.

On Monday, Chaturvedi had filed a complaint with the Mumbai Police after a rape threat was directed at her 10-year-old daughter by a troll account on Twitter.

“I have filed a complaint at the Goregaon police station. Police have assured me of prompt action in the matter,” Priyanka said.

“Despite having a picture of Lord Ram as his profile picture, the accused did not hesitate from making such remarks,” Chaturvedi tweeted.

भगवान राम के नाम से ट्विटर हैंडल चलाकर, पहले तो मेरा गलत बयान लगाते हो, फिर मेरी बेटी के बारे में अभद्र टिप्पणी करते हो। कुछ शर्म हो तो चुल्लू भर पानी में डूब मरो वरना भगवान राम ही इसका सबक सिखाएंगे तुम जैसे नीच सोच वाले इंसान को।
cc @MumbaiPolice please take action. https://t.co/Ujs7wLia9v

— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) July 1, 2018