Selfie With Rape Victim: Gurjar Resigns, NCW Issues Summon

Jaipur: A member of Rajasthan State Commission for Women, whose selfie with a rape victim sparked an outrage, on Thursday resigned even as the National Commission for Women summoned her and the state panel's chief after reprimanding them for a "very insensitive" act.

The member, Somya Gurjar, handed over her resignation to Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

The selfie was clicked by Gurjar on Wednesday when she, along with the state panel's Chairperson Suman Sharma, had met the rape survivor at a mahila police station in Jaipur North district.

The 30-year-old victim they were clicking selfie with is from Alwar who was allegedly raped by her husband and his two brothers and also had expletives tattooed on her body for not giving a dowry of Rs 51,000, according to the complaint.

"I was recording her photos for my record but the victim got interested in the camera, and she asked me what was it. I told her it's a camera. She asked to me to take her photo also. I only took her photo to put her at ease and because she asked for it, I was trying to be humane with her," Gurjar claimed.

Gurjar said she had explained her point of view to the Chief Minister and did not want any controversy and therefore she resigned.

"I resigned as I thought that I had hurt a number of people through my act. So, I took moral responsibility and resigned," she said.

The selfie also features Sharma, who in her defence claimed that she was "not aware" as to when the selfie was taken and has sought an explanation from Gurjar.

In the pictures aired by media outlets, Gurjar is seen holding the mobile device and the chairperson (Sharma) is also seen looking into the frame (of the selfie).

Calling it a "very insensitive" act, the Chairperson of NCW on Thursday ticked off both Gurjar and Sharma, and asked them to present themselves before the body on July 4.

The two pictures, in which Gurjar is seen clicking the selfie, had gone viral on WhatsApp. Gurjar sought action against the person who had circulated the picture on WhatsApp.

Sharma had sought a written explanation from Gurjar after the photos went viral.

Sharma was not available for comments regarding the resignation.