With the autopsy of Unnao rape victim’s father confirming ante mortem injuries during an assault causing his death, the police arrested controversial BJP MlA Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s brother Jaideep aka Atul Singh and also ordered a probe by Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up under ADG (lucknow Zone) Rajeev Krishna.
The National Human Right Commission (NHRC) also issued a notice to the state government on the issue seeking a reply from Chief Secretary and Director General of Police. The Commission also expected an explanation from the DGP for not communicating the custodial death to the Commission within 24 hours.
All reports, including health screening report of the deceased at the time of his admission to the jail and medical treatment provided by jail authorities, are to be sent within four weeks, a NHRC statement said on Tuesday.
A PIl has been also filed in Supreme Court on the lines of Gyatri Prajapati case, seeking a probe by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
"The SIT will go into the entire gamut of issues involved in the incident," ADG (law and Order) Anand Kumar told media persons in lucknow on Tuesday morning. He disclosed that the rape accused MlA's brother Atul Singh was arrested in Unnao in the early hours of Monday in connection with the custodial death case.
Earlier, four persons -- Sonu, Baua, Vinit and Shailu -- named in the FIR registered on April 4 for beating up the victim's father were also arrested.
On the involvement of MlA in the case, the ADG said that so far a clean chit has not been given to anyone in the matter and if necessary, the SIT will also quiz Sengar.
"SP (Crime branch), lucknow will be a member of the SIT, which will look into various aspects of the case and accordingly take action against those found guilty," Kumar said.
To a question about the possibility of any role of influential persons close to the MlA in the case, the ADG said, "The SIT will establish all that.
"As you know, SHO of Makhi police station and five other cops have been suspended on grounds of dereliction of duty and mala fide considerations. The entire issue will be reconstructed and whoever is culpable and whosoever tried to shield any person will be taken to task," the ADG assured.
The victim had alleged that she was raped by BJP MlA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and his brothers and blamed the lawmaker for her father's death.
However, the ADG said that the victim had not named the legislator during her statement recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC on June 11, 2017 and instead took Sengar's name and that of his brother in a separate complaint on June 22, 2017. The BJP MlA has rejected the charges as 'a conspiracy by his political opponents'.
Meanwhile, the autopsy report of Surendra Singh alias Pappu confirmed 14 internal injuries as well as an injury on his head. Chief Medical Officer of Unnao, SP Chaudhary said, "The death may have been caused by shock and septicemia due to peritonitis (inflammation of the lining of inner wall of the abdomen)."
To a question whether the deceased suffered from colon perforation as a result of torture, Kumar said, "How the colon perforation happened and where it happened, was a matter of judicial inquiry."
Meanwhile, Pappu's body was cremated on the banks of Ganga river by the family under heavy police protection on Tuesday morning.