×
UTTAR PRADESH

Unnao rape case: Accused BJP MLA defiant, cops arrest 4

Kuldeep Singh Sengar addressing reporters outside the residence of CM Yogi Adityanath | PTI

A special investigation team (SIT) was constituted on Tuesday to probe the rape of an 18-year-old woman, allegedly by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and his brothers, in Unnao and the custodial death of the victim's father on the previous day.

"The SIT will go into the entire gamut of issues involved in the incident," ADG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar told a press conference.

Earlier on Tuesday, Atul Singh, the brother of the rape-accused BJP MLA, was arrested in Unnao; three others were also arrested with him. The arrests were made on the directions of the UP DGP.

The ADG also said that, so far, a clean chit had not been given to anyone in the matter.

The victim's father died after being in custody in Unnao on Monday, prompting her to charge that he was killed inside the jail at the behest of the lawmaker.

The victim claimed that she was unaware of the arrest and urged that the accused be hanged.

"Kuldeep Singh (Sengar) isn't being arrested. I don't know if his brother is arrested. I demand that they be hanged till death. They've made my life miserable. I want justice. They killed my father," she told reporters.

On Sunday, the woman, along with her family members, tried to commit suicide in front of the residence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow, alleging that she was raped by Sengar and his fellow accomplices.

Later, the victim's father was arrested from the location. However, he was admitted to a hospital on Sunday night after complaining of abdominal pain and vomiting and subsequently passed away in the early hours on Monday.

Following this, six police personnel were suspended and four accused were arrested for allegedly beating up the victim's father in jail.

Meanwhile, the accused BJP MLA on Monday refused to resign from his post following the allegations of rape against him. The BJP MLA has rejected the charge as a conspiracy by his opponents.

Speaking to the media, Sengar said, "If somebody's name crops up into some issue does not mean that he shall resign."