Unnao Rape Case: CBI Detains BJP MLA for Questioning
New Delhi: The CBI registered three separate cases in connection with the alleged rape of a minor girl by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in Unnao district and detained him for questioning in the early hours today, officials said.
The agency has taken over investigation into the three cases on the request of the Uttar Pradesh government.
The cases pertain to the alleged gangrape of the girl by Sengar and his brothers, her father's custodial death and an Arms Act case that was slapped against him for which he was arrested by local police.
He subsequently died in judicial custody and the autopsy report showed serious injuries on his body.
Faced with the embarrassment of its own MLA from Bangarmau in Unnao allegedly being involved in the rape case, the state government had referred the matter to the Centre yesterday – a day before Allahabad high court was to pronounce its order on probe into the case by the central agency.
The Centre referred the matter to the CBI last night. CBI personnel reached Sengar's residence in Lucknow in the early hours today and took him for questioning at its office in Lucknow, officials said.
On Thursday, an FIR was registered against Sengar and the UP police booked him on various charges under the IPC, including rape, kidnapping and criminal intimidation.
Sengar's brother Atul was arrested in relation to the case on Tuesday – the fifth person to be arrested.
Sengar, a four-term MLA, enjoys immense clout cutting across party lines in the rural areas around Unnao district, a semi-urban area about 70 km from Lucknow.
The case came into limelight after the victim tried to immolate herself on Sunday outside chief minister Adityanath's residence, alleging police inaction against Sengar.
The victim's father died in judicial custody close to a week after he was reportedly thrashed by the MLA's brother and others.
A video of the girl's father before his death has gone viral and was also aired by several TV news channels. In the video, he alleged that he was mercilessly beaten up, including with rifle butts, by the MLAs brother and others in the presence of police.
On Thursday, the Allahabad high court came down heavily on the Uttar Pradesh government for failing to take action against Sengar, asking when the BJP MLA would be arrested.
The court referred to the SIT report and said, "according to it, medical officers and police officers, all were hand in glove with the accused to save them and you acted on this report against those officers but for arresting rape accused you need to do further investigation."
"Police was not ready to register FIR of the minor rape victim. In spite of the SIT report, you are repeating that we can only take any action after further investigation, if this is the conduct of the police in state, whom will a victim approach to register a complaint. If this is the stand you are repeatedly taking, then we will be forced to observe in our order that law and order has collapsed in the state."
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