Forwarding the much-needed relief to BJP MLA from Bangarmau and rape accused Kuldeep Singh Sengar, the state government on Thursday decided not to arrest Sengar and instead put the onus of arrest on the CBI to which the case was referred for investigation.
“We have recommended a CBI probe into all charges against the MLA including gang rape of the victim and the death of her father in judicial custody. The government would be sending a recommendation letter on Thursday to the Department of Personal and Training (DoPT) and now it is up to the central agency to take action against the legislator,” said Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar and DGP, OP Singh during a joint press conference in Lucknow on Thursday.
The CBI has, meanwhile, taken over the probe after a notification was issued by the Central government on Thursday and will start investigation from Friday.
This was confirmed by the Principal Secretary (Home).
‘’As the case has been recommended to the CBI, hence there was no reason to initiate action against the MLA. The SIT formed will continue its probe and collect evidence in these cases,” the DGP said, vehemently denying that the government was trying to protect the MLA.
Singh also claimed that while the victm’s statement was recorded before a magistrate court under Section 164 Cr PC, the victim did not take the name of the MLA or his brother.
The two top officials however were ata aloss of words when the media bombarded them with questions on what would happen if the CBI delays taking over the investigation or refuses it. Besides, the duo was also mum when asked as to why the government was obliging the MLA charged in a POSCO case which provides for the immediate arrest of the person/s accused.
The DGP committed a faux pas by addressing the rape accused MLA as ‘mananiya vidhayak ji (honourable legsialtor) an when asked on this score, Singh said that the lawmaker had only been accused and was not a convict.
The Principl Secretary (Home) informed that a case was registered on Wednesday night at Makhi police station in Unnao against the MLA and some others under section 363,366, 376 and 506 along with POSCO Act. Shashi Singh, who was accused of reaching thevictim to the legislator was also named in the FIR lodged on the complaint of the victim’s mother. He said that the government has decided to provide adequate security to the victim and her family and other witnesses in the case.
The top bureaucrat said that government ordered the registration of a case against the MLA and that both rape and murder cases would be recommended to CBI for probe late on Wednesdaynight.
He also said that on the basis of probe carried out by SIT team in-charge ADG (Lucknow Zone) Rajeev Krishna, DIG (Prison) Love Kumar and District Magistrate, Unnao, two doctors - CMS DK Dwivedi, EMO Prashant Upadhyay were suspended while disciplinary proceedings was initiated against three doctors — Dr Manoj Kumar (Orthosurgeon), Dr G P Sachan (Surgeon) and Dr Gaurav Agrawal( EMO) — for failing to provide proper medical treatment to the victim’s father, prior to judicial custody and on referral from jail to district hospital.
Besides, CO Safipur, Kunwar Bahadur Singh was suspended for negligence while handling repeated complaints of the victim.