BJP MLA's '2nd wife' files complaint against assailants

YAVATMAL: Controversy surrounding BJP legislator from Arni, Raju Todsam , over his alleged extra-marital affair with a party worker deepened further on Tuesday after a woman claiming to be his ‘second wife’ lodged a complaint with additional SP of Yavatmal, Amarsingh Jadhav, demanding FIR against over a dozen persons for abusing and assaulting her on February 12.

Jadhav, talking to TOI, confirmed that he has received the complaint and has forwarded the same to Pandharkawda SDPO, Amol Koli, for action.

Complainant Priya Shinde claimed she got married to Todsam a year ago and the same has been registered with the sub-registrar at Nagpur. Since then she and Todsam have been living together as man and wife at Arni, Priya said.

Narrating the incident of February 12, Priya told TOI that she was instructed by her ‘husband’ Todsam to reach Pandharkawda where a kabaddi tournament was organized on the MLA’s birthday. “At about 10pm, Todsam joined me and we were on way back to Arni when a group of people led by Archana Yedme, the MLA’s first wife, intercepted us and beat me. When Todsam tried to save me from the mob, he too was beaten,” Priya said, adding “I was seriously injured.”

“I wanted to lodge a complaint against the assailants the same day, but was advised not to do so as the PM’s visit was scheduled to the town on February 16,” Priya said. Todsam has now moved over to his first wife Archana and kids in Pandharkawda after the incident, Priya said adding a copy of the complaint has been sent to home secretary and special DIG of Amravati.