Following sharp criticism from opponents and amid public outcry over the Unnao rape case allegedly involving Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government has filed a first information report (FIR) against Sengar under Sections 363, 366, 376, 506 and POCSO Act.
The Uttar Pradesh government also referred the case of an 18-year-old girl’s alleged gang rape to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Earlier, the rape survivor's father had died in judicial custody after being brutally beaten up, allegedly by Atul Singh, the lawmaker's brother. CBI will also look into this matter.
While briefing the media on Thursday morning, Uttar Pradesh Home Secretary accused the Uttar Pradesh police of 'negligence' while investigating the rape case. "The state police has been lax in carrying out an investigation so far," said Kumar.
"CBI will decide whether to arrest Kuldeep Singh Sengar or not," said Uttar Pradesh (UP) DGP OP Singh.
A Special Investigation Team headed by Additional Director General of Police (Prison) Love Kumar submitted a report on the conduct of the Unnao jail officials during the detention of the victim's father on Wednesday.
The victim's father died in police custody on Monday, a day after the victim tried to immolate herself outside Chief Minister Adityanath's residence, citing 'police inaction' in her rape case. She alleged that she had been confined to a hotel room by the district administration "without a phone or water, and with guards at every corner".
Here are the latest updates in the Unnao rape case involving an 18-year-old girl and allegedly BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar:
1. CBI will decide Kuldeep's fate, says Uttar Pradesh DGP: While speaking to reporters on Thursday, Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Om Prakash Sing said: "Nobody is defending him, all we are saying is that we have to hear both sides. Now the case has been given to CBI, they will decide on arrest. "Now that the case has been given to CBI, they will decide on arrest," said Singh.
Asked about the arrest of the accused MLA, Kuldeep Singh Sengar, OP Sing said: "If there is evidence found, the CBI will take a call if the accused has to be arrested or not."
2. BJP MLA's name is not there in the statement, says UP Home Secy: Uttar Pradesh Home Secretary Arvind Kumar revealed the details of victim's statement to the media. He said on Thursday that the rape survivor did not mention the name of the accused MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in her statement in 2017.
3. Allahabad HC asks for Yogi government's stand on Unnao rape case: The Allahabad High Court will hear the Yogi government's stand on the Unnao rape case on Thursday. A Bench of Chief Justice D B Bhosale and Justice Suneet Kumar, is taking cognizance of the gangrape case in Uttar Pradesh on a letter to the court by senior lawyer Gopal Swaroop Chaturvedi detailing the incident. One of the additional advocates generals must be present at the court during the hearing.Nobody is defending him(#KuldeepSinghSengar), all we are saying is that we have to hear both sides. Now case has been given to CBI, they will decide on arrest: OP Singh,UP DGP #UnnaoCase pic.twitter.com/8vBYvJdn4x
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 12, 2018
Allahabad HC earlier ordered that the body of victim's father should not be cremeted, if it had not already been cremated. However, the body had already been cremated by then.
4. Finally the FIR has been filed, says victim's uncle: The girl's uncle welcomed the decision to file and FIR in the matter. Welcoming the Yogi Adityanath government’s move, the victim's uncle said: "If it had been done earlier, my brother would not have died." Uttar Pradesh Police is providing full security to the victim's family.
5. UP govt files an FIR against accused MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar: After the Unnao rape case created a stir among public, the Yogi Adityanath government decided to register an FIR against the accused MLA Kuldeep Singh.Yes we are happy that finally an FIR has been registered against #KuldeepSinghSengar , had this been done much earlier, my brother(victim's father) would be alive today. Still, lets see if he will be arrested or not: Uncle of victim #UnnaoCase pic.twitter.com/mCFiBpAdUO
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 12, 2018
Kuldeep Singh, the BJP MLA from Bangarmau district in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh and his brother Atul Singh has allegedly gang raped an 18-year-old girl from Unnao in June 2017.
However, the accused MLA dismissed all the allegations against him. Earlier, he said "There is no allegation against me — I'm open to any kind of investigation. Strict action should be taken against the real culprit."
6. Special Investigation Team (SIT) Submitted the report on Wednesday: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Lucknow Police submitted a report on the custodial death of victim's father after the 55-year-old was allegedly beaten-up by the lawmaker's brother Atul Singh, on Wednesday evening.
Additional Director General (ADG) of Lucknow zone Rajeev Krishna assured that all angles of the case have been investigated. While talking to the press about the political pressure on his team, Krishna said "There is no pressure on the SIT. It is working independently."
Yes we are happy that finally an FIR has been registered against #KuldeepSinghSengar , had this been done much earlier, my brother(victim's father) would be alive today. Still, lets see if he will be arrested or not: Uncle of victim #UnnaoCase pic.twitter.com/mCFiBpAdUO
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 12, 2018
ALSO READ: Amnesty says Unnao paints chilling picture; BJP MLA's wife seeks narco test
7. The doctors have been suspended for lack of proper treatment: Based on a report submitted by SIT on Unnao rape victim's tragic death by Unnao jail, Yogi Adityanath government suspended Dr D K Dwivedi, CMS and Dr Prashant Upadhyay, EMO.
"Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against three doctors namely Manoj Kumar (orthosurgeon), G P Sachan (surgeon) and Gaurav Agrawal (EMO) for laxity in giving proper medical care to the victim's father, both prior to judicial custody and on referral from jail to the district hospital while in judicial custody," said the statement.
Apart from that, "Circle Officer Safipur, Kunwar Bahadur Singh has been suspended for negligence in handling the repeated complaints given by the victim," the official press release said.
8. MLA's wife wants a narcotic test of her husband and the victim: Thrashing all the accusations against her husband as false, Sangeeta Sengar, wife of accused MLA, demanded a narco test on her husband and the victim.
Mentioning the inconsistency in the girl's statement, she said, "We demand that a narco test be conducted on my husband and the girl as well as her uncle. This will help in ascertaining the truth and presenting the correct picture."
She also mentioned political conspiracy theory against her family as her brother-in-law has been arrested in the Unnao rape case. She said the allegations against her brother-in-law Atul were false too.
Unnao Rape Case: Sangeeta Sengar, wife of accused MLA Kuldeep Sengar, met DGP OP Singh in Lucknow, says, 'I have come to plead for justice for my husband.' pic.twitter.com/wuvBQxGB41
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 11, 2018
9. Congress demands resignation of Yogi Adityanath: The Congress demanded the resignation of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, called his government a "Ravan" regime which has failed to protect women after the Unnao rape case.
"Yogi Adityanath government is a government of Ravan, which has failed to protect women," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said.
In a separate tweet, the Congress party said: "It is shocking that the Yogi Govt has withdrawn a rape case against a former BJP minister. This move will further embolden criminals and jeopardise women's security in a state that has witnessed a sharp rise in crimes against women."
10. BJP MLA supports Kuldeep Singh, says "no one can rape a mother of three children": Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Bairia district Surendra Singh on Wednesday came out in support of BJP MLA from Unnao Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who is facing rape charges.
Singh made a bizarre statement while defending Sengar. He said no one can rape a mother of three children.
"I am speaking from the psychological point of view; no one can rape a mother of three children. It is not possible, this is a conspiracy against him (Kuldeep Singh Sengar)," Surendra Singh told ANI.
ALSO READ: Kuldeep Singh Sengar: BJP MLA who punctured Yogi's tall women safety claims
11. No resignation from UP Assembly, confirms Kuldeep Singh's wife: Calling her husband innocent who is the main accused in a gang-rape case of an 18-year-old girl, Kuldeep Singh's wife Sangeeta Sengar said her husband is not resigning from the UP Assembly.
She retorted, "Why should he quit even before he is declared guilty? Merely on the basis of charges, why should he resign?"
Earlier, Kuldeep Singh also ruled out any possibility of resignation. He asked the reporters, "Does one tender resignation upon being accused? Will you resign if your name comes up?"
ALSO READ: BJP woman leader attacks government over Unnao incident
12. CBI probe into the twin cases: After public outcry and criticism from the opponents, Yogi Adityanath government decided to hand over the rape case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The case of victim's father tragic death in Unnao prison will also be probed the CBI, the government confirmed.