Unnao Rape: SC Gives CBI Two More Weeks To Probe Accident Case

The Supreme Court on Monday granted two more weeks to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to finish the investigation into the car crash case involving the rape survivor of Unnao, her lawyer and two of her aunts. The Bench of Justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose also instructed the Uttar Pradesh government to award an interim compensation of five lakh rupees to the family of the survivor’s lawyer, Mahendra Singh, to meet his medical expenses.

For the investigation, CBI urged for a four week extension to complete the probe as it requires the statements of the survivor and her lawyer—both of who are in critical condition at AIIMS hospital in Delhi. However, the court has only extended the time to two weeks more.

On July 28, a lorry rammed into the car of Unnao rape survivor while she, her family and her lawyer were on their way to Rae Bareli from Unnao to meet their uncle in prison. While the survivor and her lawyer came out of that accident alive but they are still in a critical condition fighting for their lives in the hospital. However, her two aunts succumbed to their injuries.

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Times of India noted in its report that although a guard had to accompany the survivor and her family as way of security, none were present during this journey.

The Bench of Justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose also instructed the Uttar Pradesh government to award an interim compensation of five lakh rupees to the family of the survivor’s lawyer, Mahendra Singh, to meet his medical expenses.

Former BJP MLA from Bangarmaum Kuldip Singh Sengar allegedly raped the girl twice in 2017. She claimed that she tried to file a police complaint against him several times but Unnao police treated her with apathy. In 2018, Sengar’s accomplices beat up the survivor’s father who died a couple of days later in police custody. The case gained prominence in national media after the survivor refused to back down and went up to UP CM Yogi Adityanath’s house last year and threatened to commit suicide if no action is taken on the case. Only after media reported on the case that the UP police registered the case.

Sengar has been behind bars since April 2018 but the girl’s uncle who has been helping her voice the issue said after the recent accident and despite being in prison; Sengar has been calling the girl’s family frequently and threatening them to kill them if they don’t take the case back.

On August 9, a Delhi court framed charges of rape under sections of POCSO Act against Sengar as the girl was 17 years old when Sengar allegedly raped her. District Judge Dharmesh Sharma also charged Sengar’s aid Shashi Singh for kidnapping the girl. Sengar and Singh have been framed under sections 120b, 363, 366, 109, 376 (i) and 3 and 4 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) of the Indian Penal Code. They are currently lodged in Tihar Jail.

Supreme Court will hear the case next on September 6.

Picture credit: Onmanorama