Rape,kidnapping charges against MLA Rana’s kin,aides

The accused named in the chargesheet are Sahzib Rana,Saddam Rana,Rajib,Dilshad Rana,Makroor and two policemen Narender and Jarar Ahmed. All of them are in jail.

While Sahzib Rana and Saddam Rana are relatives of the MLA,Rajib,Dilshad Rana and Makroor are his aides. The policemen were gunmen of the MLA and his wife Intikab Rana,who is chairperson of the Muzaffarnagar district panchayat.

“One of the women said in her statement before the court that she was gang-raped by the accused inside the car,” said investigating officer Sanjay Bajpai.

“The statement of the other victim was not recorded in court. The chargesheet is based on statements of witnesses,medical report and circumstantial evidences,” said Circle Officer Shiv Ram Yadav.

They have all been charged with offences under sections 376-(2)(G) (gangrape),364 (kidnapping),342 (wrongful confinement),323 (voluntarily causing hurt),504 (intentional insult),506 (criminal intimidation),395 (dacoity),397 (robbery or dacoity with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt),417 (cheating),170 (impersonating a public servant) of the IPC and 7,Criminal Law Amendment Act. The incident took place on June 21 when two Delhi-based call centre employees,along with their friends,were returning to Delhi after a trip to Rishikesh.

Late at night,they stopped at a service station on NH 58 after a snag in their car. A group of men arrived in a red Pajero with a beacon and two other cars,and abducted the women at gunpoint.

After the girls were released,they informed the police,but they allegedly did act. The police swung into action only after the girls reached Delhi and informed the media.

The MLA had dissociated himself from the incident,saying he cannot be held responsible for the action of his relatives,or what his gunmen did after duty hours. He denied the vehicles used in the crime belonged to him. However,Chief Minister Mayawati suspended Rana from the party.