CBI to take over Unnao rape case probe after Centre accepts Yogi Government's recommendation

The Government of India on Thursday accepted the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government's recommendation for a CBI probe into the Unnao rape case. 

The decision came hours after the Yogi government's counsel told the Allahabad High Court that there is no concrete evidence against the rape-accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, and hence, he can't be arrested. The court, taking suo moto cognisance, had asked the UP government why the BJP MLA hadn't been arrested. 

Earlier, an FIR was finally lodged against the rape-accused under sections of the IPC as well as POCSO at the Makhi Police station based on the recommendations of the SIT that probed the case on Wednesday. The same SIT report had also recommended transferring the case to the central agency.

The Congress party had criticised the recommendation to have the CBI take over the case.

"By the time the case will come to CBI and they will do something about it, the accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar will escape", senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said, asking, "Why has the BJP MLA not been arrested? The PM must reply."

Meanwhile, union HRD MoS Satyapal Singh had given the rape-accused BJP MLA the benefit of doubt, saying  "sometimes allegations are false also", and defended Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath by citing his formation of the SIT.

Furthermore, the UP DGP, while addressing a news briefing in the case had insisted on giving 'respect' to the rape-accused MLA and said that he would defend him as he was still an accused.

Despite overwhelming calls for his arrest, and amid expectations that the rape-accused BJP MLA would surrender, high drama was witnessed in Lucknow late on Wednesday night as Kuldeep Singh Sengar pleaded innocent and refused to turn himself in unless a warrant was issued. He insisted that he had made the late-night appearance to 'meet and greet' the police, and claimed that he had his party's full support.

The evidence had continued to pile up against the Sengars, as in a video testimony accessed by Republic TV of the rape victim's father before his death but after his being assaulted, he had named the MLA's brother Atul Singh Sengar as the person who assaulted him. Atul Sengar had been arrested on Tuesday morning, a day after the victim's father had succumbed to his injuries.

On Sunday, the rape victim had attempted self-immolation in front of the Uttar Pradesh chief minister's residence in a desperate attempt to get justice in the case.