Unnao rape: CBI questions BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar

LUCKNOW: Taking over the investigations into Unnao rape case, the central Bureau of investigation (CBI) picked up main accused Kuldeep Singh Sengar, the BJP MLA from Bangarmau, in an early morning swoop down on his residence here on Friday. Sengar was detained at 4:30 am and taken to the Lucknow office of the agency for questioning immediately. 

As per the sources, acting swiftly, a 25-member CBI took over the probe into the case on Friday morning as early as 3 am apparently on PMO’s intervention immediately after receiving the documents sent by state government on Thursday night. 

Earlier, on Thursday, Unnao police had lodged a case against the MLA under various Sections of IPC including 376 (rape), 366 (kidnapping, abduction, inducing woman to compelling her for marriage), 363 (kidnapping) and 506 (criminal intimidation) and 120 B of Protection of Children against Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act.

However, the premier probe agency re-registered the FIRs lodged by UP police and initiated grilling of the MLA who is yet to be arrested.

Of the three re-registered FIRs, the first FIR pertains to the alleged rape of the girl in which MLA Sengar and a woman Shashi Singh have been named as main accused. The second one pertains to rioting, in which four locals, including Atul Singh Sengar, brother of the MLA, have been booked. It also mentions the alleged killing of the victim's father in judicial custody. However, as the murder charge under Section 302 IPC against Sengar’s brother Atul was added later by the Unnao police, the second FIR does not reflect in the FIR lodged by the CBI. The third case pertains to the allegations against the victim's father who was arrested under Arms Act and put in jail by the local police where he condition deteriorated and he died in district hospital owing to septicaemia, colon perforation and other serious ante-motrem wounds. 

While interrogation, 20-member CBI team put 21 questions to the accused MLA like where was he during the time of the incident, where were Atul and Mahesh (MLA’s brother an accomplice) during the time of incident. He was also asked about the voice of the person in the audio tape going viral, how did he come in contact with the members of the survivor’s family. The MLA was also asked to answer if he called-up the police station after the case was registered against him.

While the CBI had seized MLA’s mobile phone, it analysed his call details which showed that he was in touch with the Unnao police constantly thoughout the imbroglio. However, in a video that has gone viral, Sengar is shown getting off the car in front of the CBI office in Lucknow and telling media persons present: "Chinta mat karo chinta mat karo. Main khud aaya hoon, adhikariyo se pooch lo (don’t worry, I have come on my own. You may ask the officers).” 

Meanwhile,  many officers and police personnel are likely to come under CBI radar as the investigation would proceed. While the team visited Unnao where the victim’s family has been kept in tight security to interrogate them -- member by member -- simultaneously to establish the veracity of their statements and the allegations levelled against the accused.

The probe team also took six suspended police men of Makhi police station, including the then station officer, into custody for their suspicious role in the case. The team is also contemplating to grill Unnao SP Pushpanjali Devi to get her perspective of the case and the role of the district police. 

Even the doctors of the Bangarmau hospital suspended for sheer negligence while conducting the medical of injured father of the victim before sending him to jail were grilled. The three jail doctors were also questioned for laxity in giving treatment to victim’s father in jail. The team may also visit the Makhi village to get more insight into various incidents.