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Unnao minor’s rape case: Accused BJP MLA yet to be arrested, Case handed to CBI

Published

9 years ago

April 12, 2018

Unnao minor's rape case: Accused BJP MLA yet to be arrested, Case handed to CBI

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Uttar Pradesh (UP) Police have finally registered a case against BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar for rape of a minor (17-year-old) girl last year.

However, the accused MLA has not been arrested yet.

The girl had tried self-immolation in front of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath‘s residence after failing to get justice. At this, the UP police arrested her father who later died in police custody on Monday.

As the case got wide media coverage leading to massive outrage, putting the BJP on the defensive, on Wednesday night the Adityanath government ordered to hand over the twin cases of rape and the custodial death of the victim’s father to the CBI.

The accused MLA, Kuldeep Singh Sengar, was then booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in a FIR registered at Unnao’s Makhi Police Station on Thursday morning, said media reports.

On Thursday, UP police chief, Director General of Police (DGP) OP Singh, addressing a conference with Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar, said that if Sengar was to be arrested, it would be done by the CBI and not UP Police. “Now that the case has been given to CBI, they will decide on arrest,” said Singh.

“Meanwhile, the SIT constituted will continue to work till the time the CBI takes over the case,” he said.

“Nobody is defending the honourable MLA, all we are saying is that we have to hear both sides,” he said. “He has only been accused so far and not convicted,” he added.

Also present in the media conference was the home secretary of the state, Arvind Kumar, who accused UP police of being “negligent”. “The state police has been lax in carrying out investigation so far,” said Kumar.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1523523927220{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-color: #a2b1bf !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}”]Voices of criticism of Adityanath government have started coming from within the BJP. BJP media panelist Deepti Bhardwaj has called the state government’s action shameful and appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah to redeem the reputation of the BJP and its government.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html css=”.vc_custom_1523523978524{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-color: #a2b1bf !important;border-radius: 10px 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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]The decision to handover the case to the CBI was taken late on Wednesday, hours after the BJP MLA made a dramatic appearance before the police but refused to surrender. Alongside, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted under Additional Director General of Police (Lucknow zone) to look into the matter submitted its report to the government.

The SIT also submitted a video that purportedly shows the girl’s father saying he was assaulted by Sengar’s brother Atul in the presence of police, reported The Indian Express (IE). On Tuesday, Sengar’s brother Atul was the fifth person arrested in connection with the brutal assault on the girl’s father that led to his death the day before.

Apart from the SIT report submitted by Lucknow ADG Rajeev Krishna, the government received two other enquiry reports from DIG (prison) Love Kumar on the role of Unnao jail administration in handling the victim’s father and a separate report from Unnao district magistrate on the lapses on part of the government hospital, said the IE report.

The government also suspended two doctors – DK Dwivedi and Prashant Upadhyay – and initiated disciplinary proceedings against three of them – Dr Manoj Kumar, Dr GP Sachan and Dr Gaurav Agrawal – for laxity in giving proper medical care and treatment to the victim’s father prior to judicial custody and at the district hospital.

On April 3, the girl’s father was arrested in an Arms Act case and also booked under charges relating to voluntarily causing hurt, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace. Unnao district jail superintendent AK Singh had said the girl’s father was handed over to police after he was allegedly beaten by four supporters of the MLA and their unidentified associates.

“On April 5, he complained of stomach ache and vomiting. We called the district hospital physician who came to the jail on April 6 and gave him medicines. They also asked us to conduct his blood, urine and ultrasound tests, for which we again took him to the district hospital on April 7. Since the physician did not find anything serious, he was brought back to the jail the same evening,” Singh had said. The next day, the victim’s father again complained of abdominal pain and vomiting. “His blood pressure too was very low, so the jail doctor asked us to take him to the district hospital. He was admitted there around 8.45 pm. But he passed away at 3.45 am next day,” he had said.

Circle Officer of Safipur, Kunwar Bahadur Singh, was also suspended for negligence in handling the repeated complaints given by the Unnao rape victim. The alleged rape case came into the limelight after the victim tried to immolate herself outside Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s residence on Sunday after alleging police inaction against the BJP MLA.

Sengar has denied the allegations and termed the charges against him as a political conspiracy. His wife, Sangeeta Sengar, had on Wednesday demanded narco tests of her husband and the 17-year-old girl.

Meanwhile, the rape victim on Thursday demanded Sengar’s arrest, saying she now fears for her uncle’s life. “Still so many questions are being raised on me, even after my father’s murder. How will I get justice,” said the victim.

Stating that the CBI probe is fine, the victim said, “First MLA (Kuldeep Singh Sengar) should be arrested as he will influence probe. I now fear for my uncle’s(father’s brother) life”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Related Topics:Kuldeep Singh Sengar Rape Case UP Police Yogi Aditiyanath

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Sharad Pawar admitted to Mumbai hospital hours after Pune discharge

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar was admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital hours after being discharged from Pune’s Ruby Hall Clinic, where he had been undergoing medical observation following complaints of cough and chest pain.

Published

4 hours ago

November 5, 2026

APNLive Desk

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar was admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital on Wednesday, just hours after being discharged from Pune’s Ruby Hall Clinic. His daughter and Baramati MP Supriya Sule confirmed the development in a social media post, saying that the veteran politician was being admitted for further medical tests.

The 85-year-old leader had been discharged from Ruby Hall Clinic earlier on Wednesday after being admitted on November 2 following complaints of cough and pleuritic chest pain.

Confirming his admission to the Mumbai hospital, Supriya Sule said, “We are admitting Baba to Breach Candy Hospital for further tests. Thank you all for your concern and good wishes.”

Pawar’s latest hospitalisation came after he had undergone medical tests and observation during his stay at the Pune facility. Sule had earlier said that his health parameters were stable.

Why was Sharad Pawar admitted to hospital?

Sharad Pawar was initially admitted to Pune’s Ruby Hall Clinic on November 2 after experiencing complaints of cough and pleuritic pain, a form of chest pain that generally becomes worse while breathing, coughing or sneezing.

Dr Purvez K Grant, chief cardiologist, chairman and managing trustee of Ruby Hall Clinic, had said that Pawar was admitted for a general health check-up and medical observation following complaints of pleuritic pain.

During his hospital stay, Supriya Sule had informed that Pawar was undergoing medical tests and that his health parameters remained stable.

He was subsequently discharged from the Pune hospital on Wednesday. However, hours later, his family decided to admit him to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital for further medical examinations.

PM Modi calls Sharad Pawar, advises complete rest

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Sharad Pawar over the phone on Wednesday morning to enquire about his health.

According to Pawar’s aide Vitthal Maniyar, the Prime Minister spoke to the NCP (SP) chief and advised him to take complete rest.

Maniyar said Modi told Pawar that his daughter Supriya Sule and others were ready to take care of the country, and that the veteran politician should focus on his health.

Pawar thanked the Prime Minister for enquiring about his well-being, the aide said.

Maniyar also said that Pawar told Modi that he was resting and had no worries about the country, as others were there to take care of things.

The latest hospital admission was confirmed by Supriya Sule, who said her father was being taken to Breach Candy Hospital for further tests.

Entertainment

Ramayana Day 1 Box Office: Ranbir Kapoor film eyes Rs. 100 crore-plus opening

Ramayana is expected to make a strong start at the Indian box office, with trade experts projecting a Day 1 opening of around Rs. 100 crore to Rs. 125 crore. The film’s China prospects remain uncertain.

Published

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November 5, 2026

APNLive Desk

Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana is heading for a potentially massive opening at the Indian box office, with trade experts predicting that the film could collect more than Rs. 100 crore on its first day.

The film, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi, is scheduled for theatrical release on November 5. Produced by Namit Malhotra, the mythological epic has generated significant expectations because of its cast, scale, music and visual effects.

Trade analyst Ramesh Bala has given the most optimistic domestic opening estimate, expecting around Rs. 125 crore gross in India on Day 1. He believes the Hindi version and the film’s premium-format availability could help drive its opening, particularly across the Hindi-speaking markets.

Exhibitor and trade analyst Akshaye Rathi has offered a slightly more conservative estimate, putting the film’s nationwide opening at around Rs. 100 crore or more across languages. He noted that the pre-Diwali release period could influence the opening numbers because audiences are occupied with Diwali preparations and shopping.

Veteran trade analyst Komal Nahta also expects the film to reach the Rs. 100-crore range across languages. His estimate is around Rs. 60 crore for the Hindi version, with the total across all languages potentially reaching Rs. 100 crore or more.

Ramayana vs Dhurandhar 2

One of the key box-office questions is whether Ramayana can surpass the opening-day performance of Dhurandhar 2.

Trade experts are cautious about making that comparison. Bala expects a strong opening but pointed out that Dhurandhar 2 benefited from being a sequel and having substantial pre-release hype.

Nahta believes Ramayana is unlikely to surpass Dhurandhar 2 on Day 1, partly because of the timing of its release. Rathi also expects a strong start but highlighted the pre-Diwali period as a factor that could affect the film’s initial numbers.

These are trade projections, rather than confirmed box-office figures. The actual Day 1 collection will depend on occupancy, spot bookings and audience response after the film’s release.

Why Ramayana has strong box-office potential

The film has several factors working in its favour. Its cast includes Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, while Nitesh Tiwari is directing the project.

The film also features music by AR Rahman and visual effects from DNEG, giving it a large-scale cinematic presentation. Trade experts believe the combination of mythology, star power and spectacle could attract audiences across different sections of the country.

The familiarity of the Ramayana story is another major factor. Experts believe its cultural and emotional connection with Indian audiences gives the film an advantage that many other releases do not have.

What could happen in China?

China is one of the biggest uncertainties surrounding Ramayana’s overseas prospects.

Nitesh Tiwari’s previous film Dangal had a major run in China, but trade experts have differing views on whether that success can be repeated with Ramayana.

Ramesh Bala has taken a cautious position. He pointed out that Dangal’s success was influenced by several factors and that Ramayana’s mythological subject may not have the same familiarity among Chinese audiences.

Akshaye Rathi, however, sees considerable international potential. He believes that audiences outside India could approach the Ramayana as a fresh story and that effective international marketing could help the film connect with viewers in markets such as China.

Komal Nahta is also optimistic about China and believes the emotional journey of Sita could appeal to Chinese audiences.

The film’s potential in China therefore remains an expectation rather than a confirmed outcome. Its eventual performance will depend on the scale of its release, marketing and audience reception.

Can Ramayana recover its reported budget?

The film has been widely associated with a reported budget of around Rs. 4,000 crore, although trade experts caution that this figure could relate to the two-part project rather than the first instalment alone.

Ramesh Bala suggested that the reported Rs. 4,000 crore figure could cover both parts and said the exact allocation for the first film remains unclear. Komal Nahta estimated the cost of the first part at around Rs. 1,200 crore.

The experts also pointed to non-theatrical revenue, including OTT and satellite rights, as important factors in determining whether the project can recover its investment.

Can Ramayana become India’s biggest film?

The possibility of Ramayana challenging major box-office records is also being discussed ahead of its release.

Bala said the film has the ingredients to compete at the highest level, while Rathi believes it has the potential to become the highest-grossing Indian film worldwide. Nahta, however, has avoided making a definitive prediction before audiences see the film.

The experts also differed on the film’s eventual worldwide theatrical earnings. Bala suggested that it could potentially reach Rs. 1,000-1,500 crore, while Nahta gave an even broader possible range. Rathi did not put a specific figure on it but said the film could potentially reach the top tier of Indian cinema’s global box-office performers.

Ticket prices could affect the opening

Another factor attracting attention is the premium pricing for formats such as IMAX.

Ramesh Bala expects the makers to benefit from higher ticket prices during the initial period but believes prices could come down after the opening week.

Komal Nahta defended the strategy, arguing that the pricing could help a film that has involved such a large reported investment. Audiences who do not want to pay premium prices could instead opt for regular screenings.

Ramayana’s box-office verdict will depend on audience response

While the pre-release projections point towards a major opening, the longer-term performance of Ramayana will ultimately depend on audience reception and word of mouth.

The trade experts broadly agree that the film has the scale, cast and story required for a major theatrical run. However, its actual performance in India, China and other international markets can only be established after its release.

For now, the projections indicate that Ramayana could cross the Rs. 100-crore mark in India on its opening day, while its potential to become one of the biggest Indian films globally remains dependent on how audiences respond to the film.

India News

Four militants killed as rival Naga groups clash in Manipur village

Four militants were killed in a gunfight between suspected rival Naga groups at Taodaijang village in Manipur’s Noney district on Wednesday.

Published

18 hours ago

November 4, 2026

APNLive Desk

At least four militants were killed in a gunfight between suspected rival Naga militant groups in Manipur’s Noney district on Wednesday, November 4.

The exchange of fire took place at Taodaijang village in the Khoupum area of the Naga-majority district. According to officials, the cadres involved were suspected to belong to rival Naga militant outfits, including the Zeliangrong United Front-Jenchui (ZUF-J) and the Zeliangrong United Front-Kamson (ZUF-K).

Initial reports indicated that the gunfight continued for several hours, leaving three cadres of ZUF-J and one cadre of ZUF-K dead.

The bodies of the deceased militants were subsequently recovered by local residents.

Residents appeal to armed groups to stop firing

Following the gunfight, local residents, including women, reached the spot in an attempt to prevent further violence between the rival groups.

They also used a public address system to appeal to the armed cadres to stop firing and prevent the situation from escalating further.

Further details about the circumstances surrounding the clash were awaited.

Manipur government reviews security situation

In a separate development, Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh directed senior security officials to identify active armed groups suspected of involvement in recent incidents of violence in the state.

The directive excluded groups engaged in peace talks with the state government.

The Chief Minister issued the instructions during a review meeting on the state’s law and order situation on Tuesday night.

He also asked security agencies, including the Army and central paramilitary forces, to submit a detailed report on the involvement of the suspected groups.

The Chief Minister said the state Cabinet could consider declaring such groups unlawful if their involvement in violence against innocent civilians was established.

He also emphasised that necessary action would be initiated against groups continuing to perpetrate violence against civilians.