Badaun cousins were not sexually assaulted: CDFD report

The Hyderabad-based Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) has ruled out sexual assault on the two teenaged cousins found hanging from a tree in Badaun in May. The Central Bureau of Investigation received the report on Wednesday, bringing more trouble for the family members of the deceased, who are already under scanner for ‘honor killing angle’ being probed. 

However, the three-member medical board constituted during investigations is yet to submit its report. The CBI has given the CDFD report to medical board as well to look into the findings and inform about their opinion. 

The investigating agency would not exhume the bodies, as the CDFD report has provided enough forensic evidence to go ahead with the probe. 

Earlier the accused arrested in wake of the incident had cleared the polygraph test, while the family members and witnesses according to CBI were inconsistent, while detailing about the incident. The CBI sources claim that he agency would not oppose the bail pleas of five accused — Pappu, Awadhesh and Urvesh Yadav (all three brothers) and constables Chhatrapal Yadav and Sarvesh Yadav — as there was no clear evidence against them. 

The two cousins went missing on May 27 evening and were found found hanging from a mango tree on May 28 in their village. The incident had triggered nationwide outrage and Samajwadi Party government was heavily criticized, with many highprofile politicians, visiting the family members of the deceased. However, Uttar Pradesh DGP AL Banerjee after the initial investigation had claimed that the rape of one of the victims was not confirmed and property could be one of the motives behind the crime.