Champawat fake gang-rape case: Court rejects bail applications of 4 accused

A special sessions court has rejected the bail applications of four accused in connection with the fake gang-rape case, officials said.

Special Sessions Judge Anuj Kumar Sangal on Saturday denied bail to Kamal Rawat, his female friend Arjita Rai, Congress state secretary Anand Mahra and Bablu Ram, Government Counsel Vidyadhar Joshi told media.

The court passed the order after hearing arguments from both sides. The four accused are currently lodged in the Pithoragarh district jail.

Police arrested Kamal Rawat and Arjita Rai on May 8, while Anand Mahra and Bablu Ram were caught on May 13. A 16-year-old girl had lodged a complaint alleging that three armed men gang-raped her on the night of May 5 in the Salli village. Police registered a case against the three named individuals, including a former BJP leader, the next day.

But investigations revealed that the gang-rape allegations were “completely false and fabricated”. Police found that the group had hatched a premeditated conspiracy to frame the individuals.

Following the revelation, police registered a fresh case against the five main conspirators. Police have already arrested four of the individuals.

The fifth accused in the case, identified as Rahul Rawat, remains at large. The court issued a non-bailable warrant against him on May 21. Police teams are conducting raids at all possible hideouts to arrest the absconding accused, Kotwal B S Bisht said.