Man who filmed rape on busy footpath in Ujjain arrested

CM assures action, accuses opposition of doing politics on the crime but keeping mum on the Kolkata rape-murder case

3 min readBhopalUpdated: Sep 8, 2024 03:36 PM IST

The police said the woman, in her complaint, named the accused as Lokesh, who was arrested within two hours of registering the FIR. Lokesh allegedly promised to marry the woman, made her drink liquor and then raped her, police said. (Representational Photo/Express Archives)

Madhya Pradesh police have arrested a man who allegedly filmed the rape of a woman on a busy footpath in Ujjain district, police said Saturday. Superintendent of Police, Ujjain, Pradeep Sharma said that the accused, Mohammad Salim, 42, is an autorickshaw driver.

Sharma said that after the incident came to light, district police, cyber and social media teams were “deployed to find out who made the video of the incident and made it viral”.

“Within a few hours, the teams identified the accused who made the video. The accused has also been found to have a previous criminal record,” Sharma said.

Sharma said questioning of the accused was underway. The mobile phone of the accused is being examined, he said.

Police have booked Salim under Sections 72 (disclosure of identity of victim of certain offences), 77 (whoever watches, or captures the image of a woman engaging in a private act…), 294 (sale of obscene content) of the BNS, Section 67 of the IT Act and Section 4 of Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act.

According to police, the woman was raped on a footpath in Koyla Phatak, one of the busiest intersections, on Wednesday. The incident was shot by a passerby and several people saw the incident, yet nobody intervened, police said.

Story continues below this ad

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav meanwhile promised strict action in the case and accused the opposition of doing politics on the crime but keeping mum on the Kolkata rape-murder. The opposition has slammed the BJP government in MP claiming that it has failed to protect women. Asked about the Ujjain incident, Yadav told PTI in Ujjain that there is a rule of law in Madhya Pradesh and the government will deal strictly with whoever commits a crime.

“No one will be spared. Be it Ujjain or (anywhere in) the state, we are committed to good governance under the leadership of the Prime Minister,” he said. Ujjain is the hometown of Yadav, who also holds the portfolio of home ministry. He said, “Those who are doing politics should look into their own affairs. It will be understandable if they take care of the states ruled by them. They do not open their mouths on the incident in Kolkata (rape-murder of a trainee doctor).”

With PTI inputs

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

Loading Recommendations...

Jun 10: Latest News

Live Blog