(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) yesterday took over a probe into allegations that a state legislator from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party raped a teenager nine months ago, police said.
Opposition parties have already seized on the attack in Uttar Pradesh, which is ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The rape in Unnao might never have seen the light of day, had the victim not tried to set fire to herself last week outside the residence of the chief minister in Lucknow.
She was stopped by guards, but the suicide attempt brought to public attention her accusations against Kuldeep Singh Sengar, a longstanding member of the state legislature for the BJP.
Ajay Pal Singh, the lawyer for Sengar, said the allegations against the legislator were baseless and that investigations would prove his innocence. 'This case is a conspiracy to malign Sengar and disrupt his political career, Singh said.
The country has also been shocked by the filing of a charges this week in Jammu and Kashmir alleging the abduction and rape of an eight-year-old Muslim girl in a Hindu-dominated area in January.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti yesterday said investigations were on 'fast track & justice will be delivered.
Eight people, including alleged mastermind Sanji Ram, have been charged with abduction, rape and murder of the ‘Bakerwal' (nomadic) girl in Kathua's Rasana village in January.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi asked 'how could anyone protect the culprits and deplored letting politics interfere in such 'unimaginable brutality.
How Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath handles the allegations against his party man is being dissected by national media keen to see whether justice takes its course.
Adityanath yesterday asked the CBI to take over the Unnao case, police said. 'We have collected crucial evidence and handed over all the details to the CBI to further investigate the case, said O P Singh, the most senior police officer in Uttar Pradesh.
The rape victim told reporters at her residence that Sengar should be arrested to prevent him from influencing the investigation.
Up until now, police had refused to investigate the victim's accusations, she said.
In a bizarre sequence of events, the victim's father died in police custody this week, fanning suspicion that Sengar was somehow involved. The victim's father had been beaten before being taken into custody following a complaint by his assailants.
Police officer Singh said they have launched an investigation into accusations that Sengar played a role in the assault.
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