BJP leader, friend arrested for 23-yr-old woman’s gangrape; suspended from party

The survivor is a native of Uttar Pradesh but has been residing in Surat with her parents for a long time, said the police.

The survivor came in contact with Aditya Upadhyay a few months back through a social media platform, according to the police. Both started talking, following which Upadhyay introduced her to Rajput. The trio started chatting with each other regularly, said police. Later, the survivor introduced one of her female friends to Rajput, said police. On Saturday, the survivor, Upadhyay, Rajput and his friend went on a beach visit in a car, according to the police.

Police said that, instead of going to the beach they had planned earlier, the accused took the survivor and the other woman to another beach in Surat district.

According to the police, after reaching the beach, Upadhyay allegedly spiked the cold drink and offered it to both women, which the survivor “consumed even as the other woman declined”.

Later, all four drove back to Surat city. The accused dropped the woman’s friend off at her home and took the survivor, who was semi conscious, to a hotel, said the police. After booking a room at the hotel, the accused took turns raping the woman, said the police, adding they dropped her back home late on Saturday night.

On Sunday, the survivor approached the police and lodged a complaint against both the accused, said police sources.

Based on the survivor’s complaint, an FIR was registered into the matter, said police. Both Upadhyay and Rajput have been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 70 (1) (gang rape), 75(2) (punishment of sexual harassment), 123 (causing hurt using poison, etc., with intent to commit offence), said the police.

Police Inspector D G Chaudhary told The Indian Express: “Both accused were arrested on Monday in connection with the gangrape case. Upadhyay had come into contact with the survivor through social media.”

“Aditya is married and runs his father’s cable network business in Surat, while Rajput is unmarried and works as a delivery executive at a private food restaurant,” said the inspector.

“He later hatched a plan to meet her and take her out with his friend. The accused drugged the woman’s cold drink, after which she lost consciousness. They took her to a hotel and gangraped her,” the inspector said.

“The medical examination of the accused will be done on Monday night,” he said.

Earlier on Monday, the survivor was taken to a hospital and her medical examination was done, said police sources. The doctors also collected her viscera samples and sent them to the forensic science laboratory for tests, said the police sources.

A police probe is underway into the matter.

After the news of Upadhyay’s arrest came to the fore, Surat city BJP president Paresh Patel issued a letter on Monday stating that he had been suspended from all posts and as an active party member.