Lucknow: Former Uttar Pradesh minister from the previous Akhilesh Yadav-led government, Gayatri Prajapati along with his two accomplices was sentenced to life by a special MP/MLA court in Lucknow on Friday on charges of gang rape.


According to reports, Prajapati, Ashok Tiwari and Ashish Shukla, have also been fined Rs 2 lakh each.


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The quantum of punishment came two days after the special MP/MLA court pronounced Prajapati guilty in the gang-rape case, and had also convicted his two associates.


Judge Pawan Kumar Rai of the special MP/MLA court pronounced the judgment under Sections 482/378/407 of the Indian Penal Code.


Apart from Prajapati, six others were charged in the case pertaining to a complaint filed by a woman from Chitrakoot accusing the former Samajwadi Party minister and his accomplices of gang rape.


Vikas Verma, Amrendra Singh, Chandrapal and Rupeshwar were the others who were charged in the case.


However, the court acquitted these four during its previous hearing.


The woman had alleged that the accused forcefully had raped her minor daughter as well. An FIR was lodged against Prajapati and six others on February 18, 2017, following directions of the Supreme Court.


All seven were charged with gang rape, threat to life, and violation of the POCSO Act. Prajapati was arrested on March 18, 2017 following the complaint.


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Prajapati also came under the radar of the Enforcement Directorate in April this year. ED attached properties of former Uttar Pradesh Minister and his family members, to the tune of Rs 36.94 crore, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.


An ED official privy to the investigation had told news agency IANS that the agency has provisionally attached several properties and bank accounts of Prajapati, his family members and their companies, comprising 57 bank accounts having balances of Rs 3.50 crore and 60 immovable properties worth Rs 33.45 crore.