Sex racket angle in Sitapur rape being probed, says SP

LUCKNOW: The main accused in the

Sitapur

school gang rape and torment case, a 25-year-old female teacher, was detained along with her two co-accused brothers from Maholi thana area in the presence of the SP on Sunday.


"The three are being interrogated by a police team comprising an ASP-rank officer, a circle officer and the SHO (Maholi). I am personally monitoring the case," SP LR Kumar told TOI.

Addressing a joint news conference with the DM in Sitapur, SP LR Kumar said police had searched the homes of the accused and scanned their phones, but did not find evidence to confirm that the girl was drugged or that whatever happened was filmed.

On whether other schoolgirls were put through the same ordeal as alleged, the SP said, "We spoke to other girls in the school and village, but have so far found nothing to indicate there were more victims. Investigations are on to look into all allegations."

The promptness in police action comes within a day of this newspaper publishing a report on the possibility of a drugs and sex ring operating in the school for two years, based on the statement recorded by the 15-year-old gang rape survivor before a magistrate on July 2 under Section 164, CrPC.

"We are looking into the aspect of videos and images as alleged. So far, we have not found any other victim (who was drugged and raped as alleged by the girl in her statement)," the SP said, adding that they had applied for compensation for the survivor from a designated fund as per rules.

Of the five accused, one Ghanshyam (20) was arrested on Thursday. He is a cousin of the said teacher. The fifth youth, also her cousin, is on the run while the teacher and her brothers were being grilled till the time of filing this report.

Advocate Arun Kumar Pandey, who practises in Sitapur civil court and is fighting the case on behalf of the girl, said if arrests were not made by Monday morning, they would fax an application to the DGP and also upload the same on the CM's grievance redress portal.

"The Maholi SHO has been intimidating the girl and her family. He is trying to dilute the charges against the accused. We want him removed or shifting of the case to any of the other 24 police stations. A formal application will be made to CM and DGP tomorrow (Monday)," Pandey told TOI.

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