Rape accused tests Covid-19 positive in Rajkot

RAJKOT: A man, detained for the rape of a minor girl on Sunday, tested Covid-19 positive in Patanvav village of Dhoraji taluka in Rajkot district.
Police said the accused, Amrutlal Ranava (58), had allegedly raped a 17-year-old Dalit girl several times.
“The survivor was raped earlier by another accused. In that case, Ranava approached the survivor and promised to get her compensation as she was a Dalit. He also promised to get her a job,” said Y B Rana, sub-inspector with Patanvav police station.
Ranava allegedly abducted the survivor on July 17 and took her to Jetpur. “When the survivor’s father tried to approach the police, Ranava threatened him that he would prove before the cops that he and his daughter used to run a prostitution racket,” said Rana.
However, the survivor’s father finally lodged a police complaint, following which the police rescued the survivor from Jetpur and arrested Ranava.
“When we made Ranava undergo the Covid-19 test, he tested positive, following which he was admitted to the Rajkot Civil Hospital,” added Rana.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)