The district officials of Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya on Saturday razed down the bakery owned by SP leader Moeed Khan, a day after an FIR was filed against him for the gang rape of a 12-year-old girl.
The district officials inspected the property, after which it deemed parts of the building were constructed illegally. District Magistrate Chandra Vijay Singh arrived at Khan's 'Avon Bakery' in Bhadarsa with a bulldozer soon after. "The bakery of Moeed Khan has been demolished," Singh told reporters. "The bakery had one big room and one small room. It was illegally built over a pond and has been demolished," Singh said.
A boundary wall built illegally around a pond was also demolished by the district administration. The authorities had also raided the bakery on Saturday and collected samples of the food products before sealing the establishment.
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh | The bakery of SP leader Moeed Khan, the main accused in the gang rape of a minor girl, in Ayodhya bulldozed by the administration after it was found to be illegal. pic.twitter.com/BwSGVvEXaP
— ANI (@ANI) August 3, 2024
As per the FIR, Moeed Khan and his house help were accused of raping and blackmailing a 12-year-old girl who worked as a daily wage employee at Khan’s home in the Pura Kalandar area of Ayodhya. Khan and his help Raju also recorded the abuse and used the video recordings to threaten the girl.
"Over two months, Khan continued to sexually abuse her, using the video to intimidate and threaten her. Khan committed these acts with the assistance of Raju, his employee. The crime came to light when the minor became pregnant," a police officer told reporters.
Following this, the mother of the girl met Chief Minister Yogi Adithyanath, following which the action was initiated. CM Yogi also shared a picture of him meeting the family (with their faces blurred), stating that the guilty will not be spared and the government was committed to getting justice for the girl.
He also accused the Samajwadi Party of not taking action against Khan, despite being a member of Ayodhya MP's team.
Meanwhile, Faizabad (Ayodhya) MP Awadhesh Prasad said the BJP was politicising the issue. "As far as this incident is concerned, it is very painful and shameful. All the people involved in this incident should be investigated, the truth should be found out. Our party completely stands with the victim. It is unfortunate that the BJP is doing politics on this. This is not a moment for politics. Innocents should not be framed and DNA tests should be conducted. She (victim) should be helped financially as well. I have never allowed anyone who has even the slightest connection with the crime near me," Prasad added.
