UP: Rape accused ex-minister Gayatri Prajapati arrested; sent to 14-day judicial remand

Absconding former Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati who is facing probe for his alleged role in a rape case, was on Wednesday arrested from Lucknow.

Prajapati was produced before POCSO court, which remanded him to 14-day judicial custody.

Prajapati was arrested from Aashiyana area of the city early this morning. He is likely to be produced before the POCSO Court later in the day, said Senior Superintendent of Police, Lucknow, Manzil Saini.

"All 7 accused have been arrested, matter will be forwarded to the Court for final decision," said Daljeet Chaudhary, ADG, Law and Order.

Prajapati was booked on a Supreme Court directive and an FIR was lodged on February 17 against the minister and six others for allegedly gang-raping a woman and alleged attempt to rape her minor daughter.

The alleged offence was first committed in October 2014 and was repeated till July 2016, but when the accused tried to molest the minor daughter of the victim, she wrote to the state DGP in October 2016, requesting the officer to take action.

Earlier, a look out notice was issued against him as also a Non-Bailable Warrant. His passport too has been impounded.

On Tuesday, three more accomplices of Prajapati were arrested by the UP Police. The arrests were made from Hazratganj area in central Lucknow.

The minister's security guard Chandrapal was arrested on March 6 near Lucknow Police lines.

In the just-concluded Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Prajapati lost from Amethi, the seat he held, to BJP.