The Uttar Pradesh Police on Monday said a magisterial inquiry will be conducted into the death of a man in judicial custody in Unnao, a day after his daughter accused a Bharatiya Janata Party MLA of rape and tried to commit suicide outside Chief Minister Adityanath’s house.
“If a lapse is found on the side of police, action will be taken,” said Praveen Kumar, deputy inspector general (law and order) of the Uttar Pradesh Police. “The incident happened while the man was in judicial custody.”
Unnao Superintendent of Police Pushpanjali Devi said two police officers and four constables have been suspended, and four people accused of beating up the father have been arrested, according to ANI.
Chief Minister Adityanath said he has asked the additional director general of Lucknow to investigate the matter. “It is an unfortunate incident. Those at fault, whoever they might be, will not be spared,” he told reporters.
On Sunday, the teenager and her family attempted suicide outside Adityanath’s house in Lucknow, alleging that the police had not taken action against Kuldeep Singh Sengar, the BJP MLA from Unnao, and his accomplices for allegedly raping her in 2017 and even beating them up. The girl had poured oil and tried to set herself on fire before the police stopped her.
However, The Times of India reported that the man died in a hospital in Unnao after the MLA’s brother and his accomplices beat him up.
“My father has already died and now they say that the action will be taken,” the girl’s sister told ANI. “I just want that FIR be registered against Kuldeep Singh and [his brother] Arun Singh and they should be arrested. I want justice.”
Sengar, who denied the rape allegations on Sunday, said he was not aware of the father’s death. “There is no allegation against me, I am open to any kind of investigation,” the MLA told reporters. “Strict action should be taken against the real culprit.”
Dr Atul from a district hospital in Unnao said the police had admitted the girl’s father to the hospital after he allegedly complained of abdominal pain and nausea. The doctor said he died early on Monday.
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