In the early hours of Monday, father of the woman who had alleged that she was raped by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA and his accomplices, died in police custody in Uttar Pradesh.

On April 8, the woman, along with her family, attempted suicide outside Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s Lucknow residence. The father of the woman was arrested.

The woman on Sunday had attempted self-immolation by pouring kerosene on herself, citing inaction of the police even after filing a complaint against BJP MLA from Unnao, Kuldeep Singh Sengar.

Father of the victim dies in Police custody

#उन्नाव – चोट देखकर साफ पता चल रहा है कि गैंगरेप पीड़िता के मृतक पिता को जेल नही इलाज की जरूरत थी. @unnaopolice @Uppolice @dgpup @myogiadityanath pic.twitter.com/2qHYT3wxNo

— UttarPradesh . Org (@WeUttarPradesh) April 9, 2018

As reported by The Indian Express, Dr Atul, District Hospital, Unnao, told ANI, “The man was admitted to the hospital last night after he complained of abdominal pain and vomiting. He passed away in the early morning hours. He was admitted to the hospital by the police.”

However, the relatives of the woman alleged that the accused Kuldeep Singh Sengar murdered him in jail.

The woman alleged that when the police finally registered the FIR after stalling it for a year, she and her family were threatened. The family also alleges that the woman’s father was thrashed by the MLA’s brother on April 3, after he refused to cancel the FIR. Subsequently, the police went ahead to book the father and locked him up.

Girl attempts suicide near Yogi Adityanath's home, claims rape by BJP MLA https://t.co/CeBv0OGrRn pic.twitter.com/BBVIRve01f

— NDTV (@ndtv) April 8, 2018

As reported by ANI, the Superintendent of Police Pushpanjali Devi said that two police officers and four constables have been suspended. Four accused of beating the father of the woman are arrested.

2 police officers & 4 constables suspended and 4 accused of beating the rape victim's father arrested: Pushpanjali Devi,SP #Unnao over the incident of death of rape victim's father in judicial custody. Victim along with her family attempted suicide outside CM residence yesterday

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 9, 2018

Reason behind the suicide attempt

A woman along with her family attempted to end her life on Sunday, April 9. The incident took place outside the Lucknow residence of UP CM Yogi Adityanath.

The woman made shocking allegations against Kuldeep Singh Sengar, a BJP MLA of Unnao district’s Bangermau constituency, situated about 90 km from Lucknow, and his brother. According to the victim, the duo raped her last year in June. The woman then lodged an FIR with the police. After the FIR was launched, the woman and her family were allegedly threatened continuously. Even after raising her voice, she was denied justice. The woman had also approached the court under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) Section 156 (3), but her efforts went in vain.

As per local sources, on April 2, 2018, there was an altercation between the woman’s uncle who had returned from Delhi and the Sengar family members. It is being reported that the two families, that of the woman and the Sengar’s are neighbours and there has been an enmity between the two families since 2003. The woman’s uncle is also said to have a criminal past. The district police had lodged cross FIRs in which Sengar’s brother Atul was named.

The case was then transferred to Lucknow for redressal, and a probe was ordered.

BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar’s response

Sengar denied the allegations levied against him.

Before being a BJP MLA Sengar had been a representative leader of the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party.

According to NDTV, regarding the rape accusation against him, Kuldeep said, “It is a pre-planned incident of the woman and her family to defame me.” He further says, “There was a rape incidence which shattered the woman and her family and they had registered the case for the same. However, I request the administration to investigate in the matter and punish the real culprit of the entire scenario.”

This is a pre-planned incident. There was an incident in their family, case was registered. Police saved 2 innocent people, being made scapegoat by them: Kuldeep Singh Sengar,BJP MLA from Unnao against whom a woman leveled rape allegations & attempted suicide outside CM residence pic.twitter.com/QrgmfUIv3S

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 8, 2018

Vijay Sen Singh, in-charge of the Gautampalli police station told Business Standard that the woman was then made to appear before Rajiv Krishan, the Additional Director-General of Police, Lucknow, who ordered a probe.