The Ghaziabad police has detained a 36-year-old woman who claimed she was raped by five men two days ago. The woman was discharged from the GTB Hospital on Saturday. The woman has been charged under several IPC sections, including cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy.
Police are also probing the role of a journalist in connection with the case, with officers saying she was allegedly paid `5,000 to spread “exaggerated news of the rape”. Police have so far detained three men — Azad, Gaurav and Afzal — for allegedly “conspiring” to falsify a case to try and resolve a property dispute. Police say they have recovered evidence of payments made via PayTM from Azad, allegedly to the woman journalist, to spread misinformation.
On Saturday, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal on Saturday wrote to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, urging him to constitute a high-level committee to investigate the alleged abduction and gangrape of the woman. This comes after Ghaziabad Police on Thursday said the entire incident was fabricated by the woman against the five suspects named in the case due to property dispute. Earlier, the Ghaziabad police claimed the incident was staged and arrested three of her associates, charging them with fabrication of evidence.
In her letter, Maliwal said that strong action should be taken against the woman if her allegations are found to be false. Maliwal said thatthe DCW received a call on its helpline number — 181 — on October 18 from a GTB Hospital nurse regarding a case of sexual assault and was asked to send a counsellor. “It must be examined as to who inflicted the injuries on the woman and who was responsible for inserting the iron rod-like substance into her private parts which was removed by the GTB Hospital (as mentioned in the MLC report).
“In case it is proved beyond doubt that the girl (woman) was actively involved in hatching a conspiracy against the men and that she is not a victim but instead a perpetrator, I would urge you to ensure that strong action is taken against the woman under Section 182 (false information with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person) of the IPC and others,” she added.