‘He should be hanged for his crime’: Father of Ujjain rape accused

The case created an uproar in Madhya Pradesh and beyond after CCTV footage emerged showing the girl, who was bleeding and only partially clothed, going from door to door in an area in Ujjain, asking people for help and being shooed away. She was eventually helped by a local ashram worker who also informed the police.

Raju Soni said his family was ashamed after learning of the incident. Referring to his son, he said, “What other punishment should be given to such a person? Only if you give such people the death penalty will it set an example and make people think at least 50 times before committing a crime like this.”

“I haven’t been able to eat since this happened. We are very stressed out over this. We feel a lot of shame in even getting out of the house…,” he said.

Raju also said that he had not gone to the hospital to meet his son, who, according to police, was taken to the scene of the crime after his arrest, and from there, “tried to flee, pelted stones at several police officers, and fell into a pit while running away”.

“I will also not go to the police station or to the courts. I never taught my son this, nor have I done any crime,” Raju said.

During their investigation, police traced the girl’s grandfather to Satna district, where he had filed a missing persons report on Monday (September 25) at a local police station. According to the grandfather, the girl went missing on September 24 when he left home at around 10 am to take his goats for grazing.

Police said the accused saw the girl wandering alone and went on to catch hold of her and sexually assault her.

At least five auto drivers had been detained for questioning during the course of the investigation. One of them was picked up after bloodstains were found at the back of his autorickshaw. It was later discovered that this autodriver had seen the girl after she was raped and had given her a ride. He was booked for not reporting the incident, police said.

Bharat Soni, the only accused in the case, is named in two previous criminal cases as well, police said.