New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday issued non-bailable warrants against rape-accused Uttar Pradesh minister Gayatri Prajapati and six other persons in connection with the charges of rape case of a minor girl.
In addition, the central government today terminated the passport of the rape-accused minister for four weeks to prevent the absconding minister from attempting to flee the country.
Earlier today, the police had initiated proceedings for a look out notice against Prajapati following reports that he may try to escape abroad to evade arrest. Prajapati has been absonding since February 27.
Immigration authorities across all international ports were put on alert and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), guarding Uttar Pradesh's border with Nepal, had also been alerted about the possibility of such a move by Prajapati.
On the other hand, the victim's relatives today filed a complaint with the Delhi Police alleging that a Uttar Pradesh police officer, who had come to AIIMS to record the victim's statement, threatened to kill them in a fake encounter.
The complaint was filed at the Hauz Khas police station, alleging that a DSP-rank woman officer of the UP Police on Thursday barged into a ward at AIIMS, where the victim's 16-year-old daughter is admitted, threatened them and snatched their mobile phones, a TOI report said.
Commenting on the development, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu told ANI, “The Samajwadi Party-Congress should have at least said in public that it was mistake to give ticket to Gayatri Prajapati and that we won't support him.”
ADG (Law and Order) Daljit Chaudhary confirmed the report and said, “Passport of UP minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati, an accused in a rape case, has been impounded.”
Chaudhary said to ensure that Pajapati is arrested soon, the Special Task Force of UP police has been roped in especially to prevent him from crossing the country's borders.
Today's action came a day after airports across the country were alerted about the possibility of Prajapati trying to flee the country.
Earlier in the day, at an election meeting in Jaunpur, Modi said, “In this country, when we do something good, we chant the Gayatri Mantra. But, the SP-Congress alliance is chanting the ‘Gayatri Prajapati Mantra'.
“A case has been lodged against him (but) the chief minister went to campaign for him while he (Gayatri) was present there…Now, the police cannot trace him,” Modi said.
“A daughter is seeking justice and the chief minister is shielding the gunehgaar (guilty)…What bigger blot can there be than this that in Uttar Pradesh when a buffalo goes missing, the government runs to find it.
“But, a girl is crying for justice and the police and chief minister are sleeping…Such a government needs to be punished,” he said, reminding voters that have got an opportunity to perform the “pind daan” (last rites) of their “tormentors”.
Official sources said a Letter of Cancellation (LC) will soon be opened against Prajapati and all airports have been alerted to prevent the 49-year-old SP leader from fleeing the country.
A letter of cancellation is a technical term used for alerting immigration authorities about any possible move by a suspect to leave the country.
Whenever passport of the suspect comes for immigration clearance at any exit point of the country, the computer screen warns the official not to let the person leave.
The UP Police registered an FIR against the Samajwadi Party politician who continues to elude them, for allegedly gangraping the woman and molesting her minor daughter with his aides.
The FIR was filed recently following a directive of the Supreme Court after the alleged victim approached it.
