Congress by-poll candidate denies 'rape' allegation

Tara Yadav accused the Congress leader from Deoria, Mukund Bhaskar Mani Tripathi of being a rapist. The Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee has already set up a committee to inquire about the incident.

Deoria (Uttar Pradesh): Mukund Bhaskar Mani Tripathi, the Congress leader from Deoria, whose candidature led to a major ruckus on Sunday after a woman leader, Tara Yadav, accused him of being a rapist, has now put out a video clarifying his position.

In the one-minute video, Tripathi claims that the allegations levelled against him are "politically motivated and designed to malign his image".

"All allegations against me are baseless and I want to warn the woman as well as some channels that have been publicising the allegations that I will soon initiate legal action against them. I will file defamation cases against those who are trying to damage me and my party," he said.

The Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee has already set up a committee to inquire about the incident in which a woman party member was assaulted by party workers for allegedly questioning the decision behind fielding a Mukund Bhaskar Mani Tripathi, who she accused of being a rapist, in the upcoming assembly by-polls.

The committee has been asked to submit its report within three days. Two-party workers have also been suspended from the party, according to a party spokesman. They are Deen Dayal Yadav and Ajay Kumar Sainthwar.

(IANS)