UP Minister Accused Of Rape On The Run; Supreme Court Refused To Stay His Arrest

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to give a stay on the arrest of Uttar Pradesh minister from Samajwadi Party, Gayatri Prajapati, for allegedly raping and blackmailing a woman and molesting her minor daughter in 2014.

Prajapati is absconding since 27 February after an FIR against him was lodged. He had earlier approached the apex court for a stay on his arrest.

A bench of Justice AK Sikri and Justice RK Agrawal said, “It’s very unfortunate that its order for registration of FIR against Gayatri Prajapati is being given a political colour,” while denying his plea to recall the order on lodging of the FIR in the sexual assault case.

The Supreme Court asked Prajapati to go to the concerned court and gave the clarification that its order was confined to only the registration of FIR against the minister. The state police have to decide whether he is to be arrested or not, the court said.

The SC had sought the UP Police to register an FIR against Prajapati on 17 February.

Uttar Pradesh Police search for Gayatri Prajapati, conducted raid in Kanpur, earlier today pic.twitter.com/oLVrXSYSqd

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Prajapati was accused of raping a woman whom he had met three years ago. She had alleged that the minister had raped her after she fell unconscious drinking a cup of tea laced with sedatives. Prajapati allegedly took her photographs and threatened to make the photos public and continued to rape her for the next two years. Even the victim’s daughter was allegedly molested by Prajapati.

Prajapati and six others were booked under the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act on 18 February.

A non-bailable warrant (NBW) has been issued against Prajapati, who is absconding. The state police are looking for him. He was last seen on 27 February. They have also issued an alert to all the airports of the country asking authorities not to let him fly out. His passport has also been temporarily revoked.