The Allahabad HC in its 20-page verdict made several scathing remarks on the situation of law and order machinery in the state in the Unnao rape case.
Following the verdict of Allahabad High Court, the CBI on Friday arrested the Unnao BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar- accused in the rape case. The two-judge bench of Chief Justice D B Bhosale and Justice Suneet Kumar was hearing the case. The senior advocate Gopal Swaroop Chaturvedi had written to them demanding a court-monitored investigation of the case, which was treated as a PIL.
The court in its 20-page verdict made several scathing remarks on the situation of law and order machinery in the state. The Court observed, “The disturbing feature of the case is that the law and order machinery and the government officials were directly in the league and under the influence of Kuldeep Singh.” The judges also lashed out at the state law enforcement over the tampering of evidence and intimidation of the victim. The court also took cognizance of the arrest of victim’s father and the assault he faced in the judicial custody.
#Unnao Rape Case: Accused MLA #KuldeepSengar arrested by CBI. pic.twitter.com/B6rmkWR1No
— ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2018
“The father of the victim, for no reason, was arrested and was taken into custody, where, we are informed, he was mercilessly beaten and succumbed to injuries,” said the court. The court also struck down submission by Advocate General Raghvendra Singh that Sengar would not be arrested on mere registration of the FIR.
The court however observed that the arrest is necessitated to infuse confidence among the Unnao victim and her family. The bench reiterated, “It is also necessary to restrain the accused from influencing the investigation and tampering with evidence and witnesses.”
The case had come to light after the 17 years old Unnao rape case victim tried to set herself on fire outside the office of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath which was followed by the death of her father in police custody. The UP Police arrested Kuldeep Sengar’s brother in the case related to the assault of victim’s father. However, Sengar was arrested only after the court’s order.
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