Shift case out of Sitapur: Girl's father to ADG

Lucknow: In an application faxed to ADG (Lucknow zone) on Monday, the father of the 15-year-old Sitapur student who was allegedly sedated, gang-raped and filmed on her school campus has sought transfer of the case outside the district, stressing that local police were pressuring them to “reach a compromise” with the accused.

Since ADG (Lucknow) exercises jurisdiction over Sitapur, the letter faxed to 05222235399 also urges him to provide security to the survivor and her family who are allegedly facing threats from the SHO of Maholi thana and the accused — a female teacher of the government school, her two brothers and two cousins, one of whom has been arrested.

“We are being threatened. My daughter was once quizzed in front of the accused. We don’t think the case can be fairly and impartially investigated here (Sitapur). We want the case to be shifted outside the district so that my daughter gets justice,” the father of the girl reiterated while speaking to TOI on Monday.

The student, who was 13 years old when her alleged ordeal began two years ago, had recorded her statement before a judicial magistrate on July 2 under Section 164 of the CrPC. She has claimed she is not the only victim in the case and that other schoolgirls were similarly targeted. While police arrested one of the accused named in the FIR on July 4, they have not taken action against the others.

A joint news conference, convened by DM Akhilesh Tiwari and SP LR Kumar on Sunday, summarised that the investigations so far had not substantiated the allegations of use of drugs to rape the student and making of video clips.

In the letter to ADG (Lucknow zone), the father of the girl has once again demanded arrest of the all the others — the 25-year-old prime accused teacher and three youths — named in the FIR lodged under Sections 376-D (gang rape), 328 (use of intoxicating substance with the intent to cause hurt) and 504 (criminal intimidation). The plea to ADG also mentions that Maholi police were pressuring the family to get the FIR “expunged”.

“Police and administration are trying to dilute the charges without a thorough probe. My daughter’s blood tests were not done to check if she was drugged. They are trying to give a gang rape case a different spin. Sarasar na insaafi hai (This is grave injustice),” the father said.