Row over age of Unnao gang-rape victim

 Is she an adult or a minor? A row has surfaced over the actual age of the Unnao gang-rape victim and slapping of provisions of the POCSO Act on the accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar who has been arrested by the CBI.

Meanwhile, the gang-rape victim was produced before the special CBI Court in Lucknow. The investigating agency had sought answers to many questions related to her alleged gang-rape and beating of her father which resulted in his custodial death at a Guest House in Unnao.

She was brought to Lucknow after a brief medical check and produced in the court for recording of her statement. “I am satisfied with the CBI investigation and progress in the case but me and my family are still under constant threat from the goons of the BJP MLA,” she said. 

Dr SK Jauhari, who claimed to have conducted her medical examination on June 22 2017 after allegations of gang rape by her, told media that the victim was over 19 years of age as on the date of the medical examination. He had produced a copy of the medical report dated June 22 2017 in support of his claim.

The medical report is likely to put a question mark on the SIT and the CBI FIRs in which Sections 3 and 4 of the POCSO Act were slapped against the accused BJP MLA. The provisions of the Act are slapped on accused if the victim is minor child and below 18 years of age.

The counsels of the accused MLA are likely to produce a copy of the June 22 2017 medical report in the special CBI Court to demand withdrawal of POCSO Act against the accused BJP MLA. During the course of investigation, the accused BJP MLA has already told the CBI that he was in Kanpur attending a party meet on the date of the alleged crime.

The CBI has, however, refused to take the June 22 2017 medical report as well as alibi of the arrested BJP MLA as a ‘ploy’ so far saying that the investigation was on and the agency was collecting evidences to reach conclusions in the case. The CBI will file the charge-sheet on the basis of the investigation and material evidence on charges against the arrested MLA and other accused.

A CBI official, who is involved in investigating the Unna rape and murder case, however, told the DNA that they have already got a thorough medical check-up of the victim done. “We are awaiting the medical report before questioning or making any comment on the earlier medical report in circulation". 

After producing the victim in the Special CBI Court  on Monday, the CBI is likely to take her back to Makhi village in Unnao and the places where she was gang-raped to recreate scenes of crime. The investigating agency is also likely to take remand of Atul Singh, the brother of the accused MLA to take him to Makni where he had brutally beaten the gang-rape victim’s father along with others.