CBI to probe Unnao gang rape case, FIR filed against BJP MLA Sengar

Unnao/Lucknow, Apr 12: The Uttar Pradesh government has handed over the investigation to the CBI in the Unnao gang rape case allegedly involving BJP MLA Kuldip SIngh Sengar even as the UP police finally registered an FIR against the accused MLA in connection with the gang rape of a minor girl in Unnao. 

According to reports, he told the reporters that a letter for handing over the investigations to the CBI for maintaining total transparency in the case would be sent to the home department today. Till the CBI takes over the investigation the local police will continue the investigation.

The Unnao police earlier Thursday 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 POCSO, an accused has to be arrested immediately after a case been filed.

The FIR has been registered under Sections 376 (rape), 366 (kidnapping, abducting or inducing a woman to compel her into marriage), 363 (kidnapping) and 506 (criminal intimidation).

Principal Secretary (Information) Avanish Awasthi said in a statement late Wednesday night that an FIR would be lodged under appropriate sections against Sengar and others and the investigation would be handed over to CBI.

The principal secretary (Home) and state Director General of Police (DGP) O P Singh said the MLA had not been named in the statement given before the magistrate earlier as the minor had said she feared for her life.

Arvind Kumar also dismissed allegations that police was trying to shield the MLA, and said it was because of these charges that the probe was being given to the CBI.

The government has also decided to extend security to the family of the 17-year-old girl, the DGP said.

He said that the guilty would be spared and added that action had already been taken against some policemen and doctors for laxity and negligence.

Two doctors have been suspended and disciplinary proceedings initiated against three others for laxity in providing the victim's father with proper medical care and treatment prior to his judicial custody and at the district hospital, Kumar said.

Kumar said the government had decided to transfer the case to the CBI after lodging the case into the incidents of June 4, 2017, (alleged rape) and since the two other cases of April 3 this year (cross FIRs on the beating up of the victim's father leading to his death) are connected, they be also transferred to the CBI.

The officials also clarified why an FIR was not lodged against the MLA earlier saying this was because the teenager had not mentioned his name in the statement given before the magistrate.

Now that the girl and her family have told the SIT, which visited them Wednesday, that they had not done so because of fear, a case has been registered against the MLA, they said.

The alleged rape case had come into the limelight after the victim tried to immolate herself outside Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's residence alleging police inaction against the BJP MLA.

The SIT constituted Wednesday night by the government handed over its report to the government after which it was decided an FIR would be lodged against the MLA and the case handed over to the CBI.