The son of an AIMIM MLA has been apprehended in connection with the horrifying gang-rape of a 17-year-old girl in an upscale neighbourhood of Hyderabad on May 28. The accused, a minor, was apprehended on Monday and sent to an observation home. He is among the five juveniles – all of whom are currently in the observation home – held in the case. An 18-year-old youth, who was arrested on June 3 in the case, is now in police custody.
Police said the AIMIM MLA’s son has been booked for outraging modesty, and not for gang-rape as he wasn’t in the Innova where the victim was violated. He allegedly abused her while travelling in the Mercedes, the police added.
At a press conference, Hyderabad police commissioner CV Anand said the MLA’s son was not present when the gang rape took place. But based on the CCTV footage and videos, the minor has been booked under Section 354 (outraging the modesty) and Section 323 (causing injuries) of the IPC, and under the POCSO Act, he said.
Anand said that the Innova in which the gang-rape happened seemed to be a government vehicle and has been seized. Police said all the accused are from politically-connected families.
The incident took place on May 28 at a secluded place in upmarket Jubilee Hills when the girl was returning home after attending a party at a pub. While the girl was leaving the pub, some of the youngsters who’d met her there approached her and offered to drop her home. The boys parked the car at Jubilee Hills, a posh neighbourhood in Hyderabad, and took turns raping the girl.
BJP MLA M Raghunandan Rao, at a press conference, had earlier displayed some photographs and alleged that it ‘showed’ an AIMIM MLA’s son’s ‘involvement’ in the case. The MLA has, however, been booked for releasing the photos and a video of the gang-rape survivor.
The state government had come under sharp political attack from the opposition BJP and Congress, who demanded that the TRS dispensation hand over the investigation in the case to the CBI to ensure an impartial probe. In an open letter to Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, state BJP president and MP, Bandi Sanjay Kumar referred to media reports about the alleged involvement of kin of some politically influential people. The BJP leader said it is the minimum responsibility of the state government to conduct a CBI inquiry when allegations surfaced about the involvement of family members of those belonging to AIMIM, a friendly party of the ruling TRS. He had also urged that pubs be closed in Telangana.
(With PTI inputs)
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