Varanasi Gangrape Case To Be Probed By SIT After Kin Of Accused Allege Inconsistencies In Survivor's Claims

The SIT, which comprises a female IPS officer, a DCP, an ACP, surveillance and SOG units, and an inspector-level officer, has been directed to complete its inquiry within 30 days.

The Varanasi gangrape case will be probed by an SIT now after the families of the accused alleged inconsistencies in the survivor's claims and presented evidence.

Source : ABPLIVE AI

The alleged gangrape case of a 19-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi seems to be taking a complex turn as families of several accused have claimed that there were inconsistencies in the survivor's account. Following this, the police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the girl's allegations and the counterclaims submitted by the families of the accused.

According to a police complaint filed by the girl's mother, she alleged that she was gangraped by 23 men between March 29 and April 4. The complaint, filed at the Lalpur-Pandeypur police station, said she was drugged, incoherent, and forcibly moved between multiple locations during that week. Police have managed to arrest 14 accused so far.

Police Commissioner Mohit Agarwal announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and ordered a temporary halt on further arrests due to the claims made by the accused men's family, news agency PTI reported.

Families Of Accused Allege Inconsistencies In Survivor's Claims

The families of several accused individuals submitted videos, photographs, and Instagram chats, claiming that the girl's allegations are contradictory and raise serious doubts about the case.

In a memorandum submitted to police, they also alleged that the girl had demanded "money to omit certain names from the complaint," questioning why the girl did not seek help during the period of alleged assault and instead continued to post pictures and videos on social media. The families of the accused even said that the posts shared by the girl showed her "laughing and roaming around".

Police said the digital evidence submitted by the families of the accused shows the girl moving around freely, riding motorcycles, smiling in public places, and actively using social media, including chatting with some of the accused and uploading photos.

Police also said that the CCTV footage shows the girl riding a bike during the time period when the alleged incident took place, as mentioned in the complaint.

According to a report by India Today, one video, dated April 1, shows the girl outside a cafe with some of the men she accused, in what looked like a voluntary setting. The footage was allegedly filmed by another accused.

Another chat with a cafe employee, Zahid, shows the girl initiating a plan to meet him during the period she claimed to have been held captive.

Questions have also been raised as to why the girl did not return home despite being near her residence on several occasions, PTI reported citing police sources. The accused's kin have also claimed the survivor initially named 23 people but identified only nine in her court testimony, suggesting possible manipulation or coercion.

Police Commissioner Agarwal stated that when the authorities located the survivor, she neither mentioned rape nor expressed a desire to return home. "Only after a lengthy conversation with the officers did she agree to go back to her family," he said.

"The SIT is tasked with presenting a comprehensive report within 30 days," Agarwal said, and asserted, "No one -- the survivor, or the accused -- will face injustice."

As per the India Today report, the medical report does not show any visible signs of injury or trauma, which makes the case complicated. The accused's families have stressed the entire case is fabricated, with some alleging that she along with her family, tried to extort money in exchange for not naming certain individuals.

They claimed that the evidence shows her behaviour appears relaxed in the social media posts, which raises doubt on claims that she was drugged or restrained.

The SIT, which comprises a female IPS officer, a DCP, an ACP, surveillance and SOG units, and an inspector-level officer, has been directed to complete its inquiry within 30 days.

An FIR has been filed against 12 known and 11 unknown individuals. Two of them have been sent to jail based on the girl's identification, but the remaining arrests have been put on hold until the SIT probe is concluded.

The case drew national attention after Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed on the situation during his visit to Varanasi last week. He had directed officials to take the "strictest possible action" against those found guilty.