As the Allahabad High Court came down heavily on the Uttar Pradesh Government on Thursday on the Unnao rape incident asking it why accused BJP MlA Kuldeep Singh Sengar has not been arrested as yet, the Yogi Adityanath Government late on Thursday decided to hand over the twin cases of rape and the custodial death of the victim’s father to the CBI.
Facing heat and growing outrage over the alleged involvement of the MlA in the rape of an 18-year-old girl, the State Government also decided to register an FIR against the legislator and the other accused. under Sections 376 (rape), 366 (kidnapping, abducting or inducing a woman to compel her into marriage), 363 (kidnapping) and 506 (criminal intimidation).
The Unnao police earlier in the day registered the case against Sengar under various sections of the IPC and provisions of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in the Makhi police station area. Under the POCSO Act, an accused has to be arrested immediately after a case been filed.
“Police is not ready to register FIR of a minor rape victim. In spite of the SIT report, you are repeating that you can take any action only after further investigation. If this is the conduct of the police in the state, who will a victim approach to register a complaint,” the court said.
In a dramatic move late on Wednesday night, Sengar made a surprise appearance outside the lucknow SSP’s residence, triggering speculation that he might surrender, but left the place without handing himself over to the police. He said, “I am a disciplined BJP worker. I am innocent. I am being implicated.”
Till the premier investigating agency takes over, the local police would continue with the probe, but a decision on whether the accused
MlA from the ruling party would be arrested would be taken by the CBI, Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar said.
“An FIR be lodged under appropriate sections considering the allegations of rape slapped on Sengar and others and the investigation be handed over to CBI,” the Principal Secretary (Information) said in a statement.
“Investigation into cross cases pertaining to incidents leading to the death of the
victim’s father be also handed over to the CBI,” it read.
The decisions were taken after the Special Investigation Team constituted under Additional Director General of Police (lucknow zone) to look into the matter submitted its report to the Government.
BJP MlA from Bairia in Ballia district Surendra Singh made a shocking remark while defending Sengar.
He said, “Tell me who will rape a mother of threeIJ He is being falsely implicated.”
In the Supreme Court, a Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Kh-anwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said it would hear a plea next week for a CBI probe. The plea also alleged that the woman’s father was tortured and killed in police custody at the behest of the “ruling party” in the State.
A separate enquiry report has been submitted by DIG (Prison) love Kumar on the conduct of the Unnao jail officials during the detention of the victim’s father, said an official statement issued tonight.
The Unnao DM has submitted a report to the Government on lapses on part of the district hospital.
