Dalit engineer spends 17 months in hospital as MLA who ‘assaulted’ him shares stage with Gehlot, walks with Rahul

It has been nearly 17 months since the 28-year-old could walk without support. In his room at SMS Hospital in Jaipur, Harshadhipati remains on the bed through the day.

Written by Deep Mukherjee

Harshadhipati Valmiki stares at his battered leg, covered with metal braces and bearing multiple wound marks.

It has been nearly 17 months since the 28-year-old could walk without support. In his room at SMS Hospital in Jaipur, Harshadhipati remains on the bed through the day. Occasionally, he peers out the window to look at the traffic outside. A government doctor said Harshadhipati suffered multiple fractures, including a broken femur.

“Even if my physical injuries heal someday, what about the sense of betrayal I feel daily? MLA Girraj Singh Malinga threw a chair at me, hurled casteist slurs and stood on my face after he and his associates left me half dead. One and a half years have passed, but I am waiting for justice. The accused is being protected.”

On July 31, the bench of Justice Farjand Ali in the Rajasthan High Court said: “The non-applicant is a sitting MLA and thus, as per the standing instruction, the investigation is being conducted by CID, CB at Jaipur. However, more than 16-17 months have elapsed, but the result of the investigation has not been submitted till now. At this juncture, it is contended by the petitioner party that the state police is under the influence of the ruling party and, therefore, the result of investigation is not being filed. Learned GA-cum-AAG refused the aspersions made in this regard. However, he seeks a short time to clarify the situation.”

When contacted, government advocate-cum AAG Ghanshyam Rathore told The Indian Express, “The court has asked me why the result of the investigation has not yet been submitted. I have mailed in this regard to the CID, CB, which is carrying out the investigation”.

On March 28 last year, Harshadhipati, who was posted in Dholpur, was allegedly assaulted by Malinga, the Congress MLA from Bari in the district. A chargesheet is yet to be filed in the case. Malinga has spent that time sharing the stage with CM Ashok Gehlot, meeting former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot on his birthday, and walking beside Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Recalled Harshadhipati: “As part of the government’s drive to collect electricity bills, I would go with my team to villages where people had not paid for many years and urge them to clear their dues. I would notice that people often asked my caste, and in one instance, people surrounded me, asking how I dared enter a Thakur village. One of the men made me talk on the phone with a man he said was MLA Malinga, who abused and threatened me.”

Harshadhipati alleged that on March 28, Malinga – a three-time MLA from the Rajput community – barged into his office with his associates and assaulted him. He was first taken to a hospital in Agra, before being referred to the SMS Hospital in Jaipur.

At the time, Malinga had called the allegations “false and baseless”, and claimed his name was included in the FIR at the behest of some BJP leaders.

The FIR, in which Malinga is an accused, was lodged under charges including those under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. After the incident, while the Rajasthan police arrested other accused, Malinga was not arrested. He surrendered on May 11, 2022, after meeting Gehlot and proclaiming his innocence before the media. A day later, Malinga, who the local court in Dholpur ordered be sent to judicial custody, tested positive for Covid and was kept at a hospital. Within a week of his arrest, Malinga was granted bail by the HC.

Courtesy : TIE

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