Unnao rape case: Govt orders CBI probe as erring BJP MLA creates midnight drama

In an attempt to wriggle out of the precarious situation where a ruling party law maker from Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, is facing murder and rape charges, the Yogi Adityanath-led government ordered a CBI probe into the case and suspended doctors and police officers.

The rape accused MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar was booked under the following sections of the Indian Penal Code: Section 366 (Kidnapping, abducting), Section 363 (Punishment for kidnapping), Section 376 (Punishment for rape) and Section 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation).

MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, meanwhile, in a show of arrogance, challenged the police to arrest him in a late night drama, claiming he is not an absconder. “I am ready for any probe. If the police wants they can arrest me. I am not an absconder,” Sengar said as he came down to SSP, Lucknow’s office at midnight with his supporters, who manhandled the media. He went on to add that he will be proved innocent after the CBI probe.

While the MLA was enacting the drama, the state government was preparing grounds for CBI probe. But the question is whether the CBI probe will be enough to absolve the Yogi government of the misgovernance charges it faces. It is no longer news that BJP law makers are calling the shots. They intimidate and use police as a hammer to beat their opponents. But the Unnao rape case has raised the question of whether Yogi Adityanath is good enough to continue as the Chief Minister.

BJP national president Amit Shah, who was in Lucknow on Wednesday, extended his stay by three hours after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of UP police found the involvement of BJP MLA and his family members in the rape as well as the murder case. Shah held another round of meetings with party state general secretaries in the wake of the SIT report by Rajeev Krishna, ADG Lucknow zone .

A BJP leader told National Herald that it is unfortunate that those leaders who were brought into the party fold before elections from other parties, are giving a bad name to the party. “Party cannot absolve itself from the crime of these leaders. If these leaders had criminal background, party knew it and still brought them and asked them to join BJP. Their paap (sin) is bringing bad name to BJP,” he said.

A separate enquiry report has been submitted by DIG Prison Love Kumar on the role of the Unnao jail administration during the detention of Pappu Singh, father of the teenage girl who has alleged rape by the BJP MLA and his cohorts. Pappu died in custody. The Unnao District Magistrate carried out another inquiry into the lapses on the part of District Hospital Unnao.

Principal Secretary Arvind Kumar said following decisions have been taken considering the reports and recommendations by different committees:-

1. An FIR be lodged under appropriate sections considering the allegations of rape levied on Kuldeep Singh Sengar, MLA and others and  the investigation be handed over to CBI.
2. Investigation of the cases pertaining to incidents on April 3, 2018, leading to death of complainant’s father will also be handed over to CBI.
3. Two doctors Dr DK Dwivedi, Chief Medical Superintendent, Dr Prashant Upadhyay, Emergency Medical Officer, to be suspended for dereliction of duty and disciplinary proceedings initiated against three other doctors, Dr Manoj Kumar, Ortho-surgeon, Dr GP Sachan, Surgeon, and Dr Gaurav Agrawal, Emergency Medical Officer, for laxity in giving proper medical care and treatment both prior to judicial custody and on referral from jail to distt Hospital while in judicial custody.
4. Circle Officer Safipur, Kunwar  Bahadur Singh, to be suspended for negligence in handling the repeated complaints given by the victim.
5. The Government has decided to give adequate security to the family members.