New Delhi: Three individuals arrested in connection with the IIT-BHU sexual assault case have confessed to being involved in three other incidents of molestation on campus.
Kunal Pandey (28), Saksham Patel (20), and Abhishek Chauhan (22) revealed during police questioning that they regularly visited the university premises between 11 pm and 1 am, actively seeking “opportunities” – ostensibly to harass women.
An analysis of their call detail records corroborated their presence on campus during these hours, the Indian Express reported.
The November 1 incident, which led to the arrest of the three individuals, was not the only case reported. Two days earlier, another female student had faced a similar ordeal and reported the incident to the Proctor’s office. However, police indicated that they received only one formal complaint, related to the November 1 assault.
The accused have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including rape. Their phones were also sent to a forensic science laboratory to retrieve potential evidence, though no videos or photographs were found, suggesting that the material may have been deleted.
The men confessed to having molested three others on campus, including an incident on October 30. The Proctor’s office had received a complaint regarding the October 30 incident, and appropriate action was being taken, according to the institute’s Dean.
Accused in the IIT-BHU case with UP Chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Photo: X/@zoo_bear
People in the accused’s neighbourhood alleged their involvement in bullying locals and claimed that their connections with the BJP shielded them. Both Pandey and Patel had identified themselves as associated with the BJP on their Facebook profiles, with Pandey serving as the party’s Varanasi (Mahanagar) IT cell coordinator and Patel as co-coordinator. Pandey is also married to the daughter of a local BJP corporator.
However, BJP Varanasi (Mahanagar) president Vidyasagar clarified that the accused were no longer members of the BJP IT cell, as the cell was dissolved in November and has not been reconstituted since then.
During questioning, the accused revealed that they initially stayed in Varanasi for a week after the incident but left town as student protests intensified. They returned about 15 days ago, believing the situation had cooled down. The accused evaded capture by hiding in various locations around the city before finally returning to their respective homes.
Police documents indicate that a motorcycle allegedly used in the crime, three phones, some cash, and jewellery were confiscated during the arrest of the accused. Varanasi Commissioner Mutha Ashok Jain declined to comment on the case or the investigation, and said, “For us, the chapter is closed. We have arrested the accused.”