Days after rape case filed by girl’s uncle, father says it’s false

He alleged that his brother-in-law took advantage of their “personal rivalry” and had lodged a fake rape case.

Moradabad SSP Hemant Kutiyal said local residents told police during the probe that no such crime had taken place, and that the uncle filed a case against the five men “due to political rivalry”, and also stated this in affidavits.

A man who claimed to be a witness to the alleged rape — he has also been booked, along with the teen’s uncle — however said, “I told police what I saw. I was standing at my farm when I saw the men. This is all happening because one of the accused is the village pradhan’s son. No one can go against them.”

Several villagers confirmed that one of the accused is the village head’s son. Sources said the accused were picked up by police and were later released.

The alleged rape took place on September 1. The accused purportedly ran off with her clothes after being caught by a local resident. The girl walked for 2 km without her clothes — no one on that busy stretch stopped to help her.

Her uncle lodged the case on September 7. An FIR under Sections of gangrape, POCSO Act and criminal intimidation was registered against five men, who are from the same village.

The uncle stated in the complaint that he went to the house of the accused but was threatened and asked not to get involved.

After the FIR, police took statements of the girl and eyewitness. One of the accused, Noshe Ali, was arrested and sent to judicial custody.

On Thursday, after a video of the girl walking home went viral, police and her parents said she was not gangraped, and that her uncle has “defamed” her.

Her father told The Indian Express that he and his family have been “cheated”.

He said, “My daughter went to the fair alone [according to the first FIR based on the teen’s uncle’s complaint, she went to the fair alone, was abducted on way back home and raped]. I was out working. My wife and elder daughter were looking for her. She returned home in an hour; she was naked. We are sure she took off her clothes because she’s mentally disabled. She wasn’t raped, but my brother-in-law is taking advantage of the situation. He and his friend lodged a fake case.”

He said, “I have filed a compliant against him (girl’s uncle) for defaming our family. We are helpless.”

The teen’s father also said, “Aulaad aap ko utha bhi sakti hai aur gira bhi…hum nirdosh hai. Humari beti ko kuch nhi hua.”

The girl’s uncle did not respond to calls and messages left on his phone and was not found at his home.

On Thursday, he and the eyewitness were booked under Sections of defamation, insulting modesty of a woman and IT Act.

UP Police said both FIRs are being probed since medical examination didn’t confirm rape.

The medical examination was conducted a week after the incident.