IIT-BHU sexual assault case: Accused involved in 3 other molestations on campus

Police, however, said they had received only one complaint — from the woman targeted in the November 1 incident. The phones of the three men have been sent to the forensic science laboratory to retrieve photos, videos and texts. In her complaint, the woman had alleged that the accused had filmed the sexual assault.

“We did not find any such videos or photographs; those may have been deleted,” said an officer. “During interrogation, the three confessed that they had molested three others on campus premises in the past, including one on October 30.”

The institute’s Dean had confirmed to The Indian Express that a complaint regarding the October 30 incident was received by the Proctor’s office and that action was being taken.

Patel and Chauhan live at a distance of 300 metres in Varanasi’s Bajardiha area, while Pandey lives about a kilometre away. The BHU campus is approximately three kilometres from their residences.

An officer said that soon after the incident, police gathered CCTV footage from around the campus. “We scrutinised several videos and identified potential suspects,” said the officer. “Their initial images were blurry, so we gathered more footage. Clear photographs helped zero in on the men, and their movements were tracked over the past few days. We discovered they frequented the BHU campus between 11 pm and 1 am.”

“The clearer photographs were shown to the victim for verification. Further, police collected photographs from their SIM card application forms, and spoke to individuals near their homes and the campus to verify their movements,” said the officer. “After the victim confirmed their identities, we launched a manhunt. However, the accused had already moved to undisclosed locations. Intermittent phone usage hampered location tracking.”

On December 31, based on a tip-off, police finally caught the men. A local police officer in Varanasi said that at first, the accused denied their involvement in the incident. “But on proper interrogation, they confessed. We also showed them their photo from a CCTV camera on the night of the crime.”

During questioning, the men are learnt to have told police that they stayed in Varanasi for a week after the incident but fled town as student protests intensified. “They returned to Varanasi about 15 days ago, believing the issue had cooled down,” the officer said. “Initially, they hid in various locations around the city. Eventually, feeling safe, they started staying at their own homes.”
The men have been charged under several IPC sections, including rape.

In their neighbourhood, locals said the men would indulge in “dadagiri” in the area and would get away because of their BJP links. On their Facebook profiles, Pandey and Patel state they are associated with the BJP — the former as the party’s Varanasi (Mahanagar) IT cell coordinator and the latter as co-coordinator.

Pandey is married to the daughter of a local BJP corporator, whose house was locked on Tuesday. Police officers, including Varanasi Commissioner Mutha Ashok Jain, refused to comment on the case or the investigation. “For us, the chapter is closed. We have arrested the accused,” said Jain.

As per police documents, a motorcycle used in the alleged crime, three phones, some cash and jewellery was confiscated from the accused during their arrest.

BJP Varanasi (Mahanagar) president Vidyasagar said the three are no longer members of the BJP IT cell in Varanasi. “They were office-bearers till November. But in November, the IT cell was dissolved and has not been reconstituted since then,” said Rai.